Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Bangladesh president Zillur Rahman dies in Singapore


Bangladesh President Mohammad Zillur Rahman, a close aide of the country's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, died at a Singapore hospital on March 20.

He was being treated for kidney and respiratory problems, officials said.
"He breathed his last at the Mount Elisabeth Hospital," a Presidential spokesperson informed.
Bangladesh ambassador to Singapore said that doctors proclaimed him dead at 6.47 pm (local time) when his son, daughters and close relatives were present.
Rahman, 85, was admitted to the facility on 10th March, as he was flown to Singapore by an air ambulance for critical lung infection, a day after he was rushed to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at Dhaka cantonment.
He was made the ceremonial head of the state in 2009 after Awami League was elected in the landmark December, 2008, general elections.
A lawyer by profession, Rahman was a close aide of Bangladesh's founder and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and is regarded as a key figure in consolidating the ruling Awami League's unity at different times after 1975 coup when Sheikh Mujib was killed along with most of his family members.
Bangladesh has announced a three-day state mourning.
"The acting president announced the three-day state mourning for the death of President Zillur Rahman," a presidential spokesman was quoted by a news agency as saying.
Parliamentary speaker Abdul Hamid was made the acting president on March 14 to discharge the functions of President in accordance with the Constitution.

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