Can you imagine swimming 285 kilometres in just 70 hours?

Khittindra Chandra Boissya, a national swimming records-holder, has taken up the challenge to swim from Sylhet to Bhairab in Kishoreganj. Never mind he is 70 years old.

Boissya fought for Bangladesh’s independence back in 1971 when he just 19. Half a century later the Ekushey Padak-winner is up to conquer another dream of his life:create a world record in swimming.

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At 7 am on Monday, Boissya splashed in the River Surma from Chandnighat at Kean Bridge amid cheers from hundreds of fans and tight safety measures mounted by the district administration. He hopes to reach Bhairab in 70 hours.

Senior assistant superintendent of Sylhet River Police, Humayun Kabir, said a joint team of district police, police administration, river police and an official from the civil surgeon are on around-the-clock duty to check his physical condition while swimming.

Before the start of his dream journey Boissya asked for blessings for his success.

“Swimming is my hobby and it has been my passion since my student life,” he said. “My aim is to enter into the Guinness World Record.”

He retired from government service in 2012.

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Born in 1952, in Madan upazila of Netrakona district, Boissya completed his graduation from Sylhet MC College and late did his postgraduate from Dhaka University

He also set a national record by swimming for 93.11 hours in 1974 and 108 hours in 1976.