Bangladeshi grandmaster Ziaur Rahman passed away shocking the country while playing a game on Friday (July 5) evening.

Ziaur Rahman was playing a game on the ongoing National Chess Championship against another grandmaster Enamul Hossain Rajib that began at 3:00pm. 

The grandmaster suddenly fell ill around 6:00pm, after that he was rushed to Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital where on-duty doctors declared Ziaur Rahman dead.

Bangladesh Chess Federation's general secretary Syed Shahabuddin Shamim confirmed the matter.

He said, "He (Ziaur Rahman) died when he was put on the car to take to hospital. Then the doctors confirmed about his death when he was taken to hospital though his relatives cannot accept his death. They hope that Zia is still alive.

Ziaur Rahman was 50 years old. His son Tahsin Tajwar is also playing in this year's National Chess League. Zia's wife Labanya was also present at the federation. He died before his wife and son there.

Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman was born in 1974. He received international master status in 1993. After Niaz Morshed, he became the second grandmaster of the country in 2002. In October 2005, he achieved highest rating (2570) among the Bangladeshi chess players.

BDST: 2037 HRS, JULY 05, 2024
MSK