In this photograph taken on February 12, 2009 newly-elected president Zillur Rahman stands at the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Dhaka, Bangladesh. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, a veteran ruling party politician named to the largely ceremonial post in 2009, died on Wednesday aged 84 in a Singapore hospital, officials said.
Rahman, who was suffering from kidney and respiratory problems, was flown to Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital by air ambulance on March 10 after his conditions worsened.
The nation declared three days of mourning after his death in the early evening in Singapore and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her ‘profound shock’ and lamented “an irreparable loss to the country and its people”.
Rahman’s secretary Shafiul Alam told AFP that the close aide of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had been suffering from ‘old age complications’. He leaves behind a son, who is a lawmaker, and two daughters.
The body of the former deputy chief of the ruling Awami League will be flown back to the country on Thursday (today), he said, with his funeral and burial taking place on Friday afternoon.
A lawyer by profession and one of the longest serving lawmakers of the country, who first joined parliament in 1973, Rahman earlier made his name as an activist who pushed for Bangladesh to break free from Pakistani rule.
Zardari offers condolences
President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed grief over the demise of Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman.
In a message to PM Hasina, President Zardari said Rahman would be remembered for his desire to contribute towards strengthening Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2013.
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