Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) inaugurated an international standard squash court and a swimming pool at the Bashundhara Residential Area campus in the capital on Wednesday.

Brig Gen GM Quamrul Islam (retd), secretary general of the Bangladesh Squash Racket Federation, and Utpal Shuvro, chief sports editor of the Prothom Alo, attended the launching programme, read a press release.

The squash court, measuring 21 feet by 32 feet with a height of 21 feet, is a facility designed to foster pro-level squash gameplay. Equipped with an international standard floor, the court hosts a gallery with a sitting capacity of 50.

This semester, IUB enrolled two promising female squash players on full scholarships. They are Joti Rani Roy, from the Department of Accounting, and Riyajul Zannat Urdho, from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

The inauguration of the squash court featured several exhibition matches among IUB trustees, invited guests, students, and junior school-level players.

The swimming pool measures 32 feet by 56 feet, with a depth that varies from 3.5 feet to 5.5 feet. The overflow-type pool includes filtration and heating systems for use during cold weather. Eight students, both male and female, participated in the inaugural laps of the swimming pool.

Didar A Husain, chairman, Board of Trustees, IUB, trustees Rashed Chowdhury, Lutfe M Ayub, Mirza Salman Ispahani, Hosne Ara Ali, Towhid Samad, Ismail Dobash, Vice-Chancellor Tanweer Hasan, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan, attended the programme along with the IUB treasurer, registrar, deans, faculties, members of the administration, students, and a number of guests from the Bangladesh Squash Racket Federation. 

The IUB Music Club performed a number of songs at the poolside while the IUB Art Club contributed to the decorative work, read the release.

On the same day, the guests also inaugurated the Yoga and Self-Defense Studio, male and female fitness centres, and male and female common rooms on the campus.