Online Desk :

Bangladesh Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman passed away at a hospital in the city after suffering a heart attack during the 12th round game of the ongoing National Chess Championship at the Chess Federation on Friday.

Zia bhai is no more. He breathed his last at around 6:00pm at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital,’ confirmed former national chess player Tonima Parveen, who was staying at the hospital with Zia.

Zia, who earned the Grandmaster title in 2002, is survived by his widow and only son FIDE master Tahsin Tajwar Zia, also a national chess player of Bangladesh.

‘Zia was contesting against Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Rajib in the national championship and suddenly he fell down at 5:50pm. He was then rushed to the hospital where the doctor declared him dead around 7:20pm ,’ said Parveen, who was serving as an arbitrator of the competition.