The curtains fell on the 48th National Athletics at the National Stadium in Dhaka yesterday as two national records were broken.

Bangladesh Army's Mohammad Sourov Mia set his national record in the Men's Pole Vault, jumping 4:50 meters, which beat the country's previous best at 4.35 meters set by Humayun Kabir of Bangladesh Navy in 2006. 

In the Women's 4x400 Meters Relay, Shirin Akhter, Sabiha Al Soha, Nusrat Jahan Runa, and Nathera Khatun of Bangladesh Navy broke a 31-year record to become the fastest to complete the event. They bettered the record of Bangladesh Army's Libya Khatun and three others (3:55.55 seconds (E)), taking 3:51.62 seconds (E) to complete the event. 

Bangladesh Army's Nazmul Hossain Roni and Barsha Khatun were adjudged the best athletes of the competition, while Farid Khan Chowdhury was declared the best coach/organizer.

Photo: Firoz Ahmed

The closing ceremony of the three-day event was declared yesterday at 5:00 pm by the president of the Bangladesh Athletics Federation, Major General Dr. Naeem Ashfaq Chowdhury.

Bangladesh Navy topped the medal list with 21 gold, 17 silver and 12 bronze medals, totalling 50 medals. Bangladesh Army came second with a total of 57 medals, including 19 gold, 19 silver and 19 bronze medals and BKSP bagged six medals (3 silver and 3 bronze medals).