Big bucks promised to swimming's new EC

The executive committee of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) has been elected unopposed yesterday after no one withdrew their nominations against 24 posts of the game's governing body.

“As no one from the 24 candidates withdrew their nominations against 24 posts today [Thursday], which was the last day of the withdrawal of nominations, the 24-member committee of Bangladesh Swimming Federation has preliminarily been elected without contest,” said returning officer SM Kabirul Islam.

BM Saif has been elected general secretary while Golam Mohammad Alamgir, Tarafder Ruhul Amin, former general secretary Rafiz Uddin and veteran organiser Abdul Mannan were elected as vice presidents of the committee, which also includes two joint secretaries, a treasurer and 16 members.

The newly elected committee has been assured approximately Tk 2 crore per year from two sponsors who are also part of the committee, while another Tk 1 crore is expected to be deposited to the BSF account to run the federation smoothly throughout the year.

“As far as I know, two sponsors have promised our honourable president [Navy Chief admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed] to provide Tk 16 lakh per month and they have been included in the committee,” said general secretary elect BM Saif, adding that BSF have also gotten promises of getting Tk 1 crore a year.

It has been learnt that Max Group chairman, Alamgir will provide Tk 10 lakh per month while Saif PowerTec's managing director Tarafder will provide Tk 6 lakh per month.

“No doubt, we have lagged behind the standard that we had after Liberation,” said Saif, who was the joint secretary of the previous committee. “However, we are trying to lift swimming by appointing foreign coaches and we got results in the last South Asian Games.”

“I have a plan to introduce a school swimming championship in the latter part of this year and will give special emphasis on places like Nikli of Kishoreganj, Kushtia from where a lot of swimmers are coming through,” said Saif.

The general secretary-elect also informed that they would take responsibility of the swimmers who would come through the talent hunt programme, organsied by Bangladesh Navy.