Freedom fighter and legendary swimmer Arun Nandi left his hometown Chandpur by Sonar Tori (launch) at 2.40 pm on November 3 to cure various diseases but it was his dead body that returned home yesterday.
At just 4.10 pm, an ambulance carrying the dead body of Arun, escorted by a motorcade, stopped in front of Arun Nandi Swimming Pool in the town. Hundreds of people thronged there to show their final respect to the champion swimmer. A coffin carrying his mortal remains draped in a national flag was brought out of the ambulance.
Seeing the coffin many broke to tears. A guard of honour was given to the local hero before Chandpur deputy commissioner AKM Shahidur Rahman and others laid floral wreaths on the coffin.
Later, district Mukitjoddha Sangsad, Muktijoddha Foundation, district sports organisation, Swimmer Malek Memorial Swimming Academy, Arun Nandi Swimming Club, Chandpur Swimming Club and other organisations and individuals paid their respect to Arun, who died in Kolkata on Sunday morning at the age of 68.
Later his mortal remains were taken to Chandpur Shilpakala Academy premises in a procession and were kept at the Kalibari temple for some time before being cremated at Ichli crematorium.
People from all walks of life stood one minute in silence at the conference room of Chandpur deputy commissioner earlier to show respect to Arun Nandi, widely known as Arun Da.
Sports Reporter adds: In Dhaka, sports persons and organisers paid their last homage to Arun at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the morning.
His dead body was brought to the national stadium at 10 am with Bangladesh Olympic Association and different sports federations placing floral wreaths on the coffin.
A long-distance swimmer who later became vice-president of Bangladesh Swimming Federation, will be best remembered for his effort to support the freedom fighters and create public opinion for Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, when he swum non-stop for a then record 90 hours and five minutes in Kolkata.