Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Aug 31, 2026 (BSS)- After being non-functional for a long time, the swimming pool of the Rajshahi Divisional Women's Sports Complex is set to reopen with new initiatives.

It is scheduled to be officially inaugurated on Saturday [September 5], 2026, at around 9 am.

Located in the Terkhadia area of the city, inside the Rajshahi Divisional Women's Sports Association, the reopening of this swimming pool will create 
new opportunities for swimming enthusiasts, young people, athletes, and the general public.
 
According to sources, the operation of the swimming pool had practically come to a halt since the change of government on August 5, 2024.

Due to long-term disuse, garbage and waste had accumulated in the pool and various equipment had also become non-functional.

As a result, sports lovers and young people in the city were deprived of the opportunity to learn and practice swimming for a long time.
 
Considering the situation, the local Crystal Ripen Swimming Club has taken the initiative to reopen the swimming pool.

The concerned parties said that the swimming pool has been leased from the National Sports Council for five years, from the current 2026-27 fiscal year to the 2030-31 fiscal year.

The work of cleaning the pool and adding necessary facilities has already been done.
 
Md. Ujjal Ali, director of Crystal Ripen Swimming Club and former Joint General Secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan Jubo Dal, said the swimming pool was functional before. But after August 5, 2024, it became non-functional. 

"As a result, many young boys and girls were deprived of the opportunity to learn swimming. Yet knowing how to swim is extremely important for every person. Due to not knowing how to swim, incidents of drowning deaths also occur at various times," he said.
 
He said as the number of ponds in the city has decreased, the opportunity to learn swimming naturally has also become limited. Everyone from children and teenagers to the elderly will get the opportunity to learn how to swim here, he added.

Along with that, there are also plans to organise various competitions in the future to make swimming more popular as a sport.
 
Ujjal Ali further said that separate times will be arranged for boys and girls to swim. For women, emphasis has been given to safety, and along with separate timings, dressing room facilities have also been arranged.
 
Shafiullah Sheikh Ripon, who is in-charge of managing the swimming pool, said that the time from 6 am to 9 am every day has been fixed for exercise, walking and working people.

The pool will be open for boys and men from 9 am to 2 pm.

Girls and women will get the opportunity to swim from 3 pm to 5 pm. After that, from 5 pm to 9 pm, there will be arrangements for learning and practicing swimming for athletes and service holders.
 
An entry fee of Taka 100 per person per hour has been fixed for using swimming and other facilities. An additional fee will have to be paid if you stay beyond the allotted time.
 
For the convenience of swimmers and visitors, in addition to a garage in the pool area, lockers have been arranged to safely keep mobile phones, clothes, and other personal belongings. An additional fee of Taka 20 will be charged for using the locker.
 
The organisers said that their main goal is not just entertainment, but to establish swimming as an important skill for safe living.

Along with that, they expect to involve the younger generation in sports and to further expand the environment for swimming practice in Rajshahi.
 
With the inauguration on September 5, the long-closed swimming pool will come back to life- such is the expectation of the organisers.

They have called upon swimming lovers of all ages, young people, women, athletes, and the general public of Rajshahi to avail the facilities of the swimming pool.