Organisers on Saturday postponed an annual long-distance swimming competition after threats from the militants. âWeâve postponed the Ninth National Long Distance Swimming Competition due to security reasons and threats from Islamic militants,â the general secretary of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation, Shahabuddin Ahmed, told AFP.âOrganisers faxed us a message saying the district administrator got a threat on his life from militants. There are fears of violence by militants,â he said.
Swimmers from both sexes compete in the annual event organised by the state swimming federation that was to be held Monday in the Chitra river in the western district of Narial. âRecently police have recovered bombs in the district,â Ahmed said. âAuthorities donât have enough means to provide security to thousands of spectators who would be watching the swimmingâ along the 15-kilometre (nine-mile) stretch of river, he added.