Using country's swimming pools

Swimming is an essential life skill that everyone needs to learn whether as a child or in adulthood. It requires you to use many of the muscles in your body, for building strength and endurance. And it is beneficial for your metabolism and the cardiovascular system. However, the places where one can learn swimming is decreasing day by day in Bangladesh. Those who want to learn swimming in urban areas usually depend on swimming pools. And the government has recently set up several pools across the country spending Tk 1.30 billion (130 crore). But most of these pools cannot be used and as a result many of them are left abandoned, reports a leading Bangla daily. Some of them do not even have water. Even if there is water, that is not suitable for swimming.

The daily has published a photo of the Barishal district swimming pool, where two teenagers have been seen playing football. Another swimming pool in Bogura has been kept locked since its construction some six years ago. The authorities of the Bogura pool say that the maintenance of the pool is expensive and they do not have fund for this.

In this situation, what the government can do is to lease out the pools to non-government organisatoins or individuals for their maintenance. This is a common practice outside Bangladesh. The earlier we can begin to use the swimming pools, the better it is for society. Strict monitoring is also needed for the swimming pools in operation. Also, the fees for using the pools should be affordable so that people from all walks of life can use them. By offering swimming facilities, we can expect our people to learn swimming. And we may also get good swimmers in the future.

MA Islam,

Dhanmondi, Dhaka