Bangladesh Chess Federation has decided to name its hall room after late grandmaster Ziaur Rahman, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest during the 12th round game of the National Chess Championship in Dhaka on Friday.
Zia, 50, suddenly fell to the ground midway during a game against grandmaster Enamul Hossain Rajib at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall room at around 5:50pm.
He was immediately rushed to the Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital in Shahbag but was declared dead by the duty doctors at 6:00pm.
鈥楽ince Zia died while playing in our own venue, and considering his lifetime devotion for chess, we have decided to name the venue [the hall room] after his name,鈥� said Chess Federation secretary Syed Shahabuddin Shamim after Zia鈥檚 first namaz-e-janaza at 11:00am at the National Sports Council鈥檚 old building premises on Saturday.
Despite being a Dhaka University graduate, Zia never tried for a job due to his love for the game.
Shamim informed that the federation will try to raise a fund of about Tk 1 crore to assist the family of late Zia, as he was the only earning member of his family.
鈥榋ia was the only earning member of his family. So, his family needs financial support, and we will try to help them,鈥� said Shamim.
Zia, the country鈥檚 highest-ranked grandmaster, was then laid to rest at the Mohammadpur Graveyard in the city after his second namaz-e-janaza at the Taj Jame Masjid after Zuhr prayer.
Organisers from several sports organisations, including Bangladesh Olympic Association secretary general Syed Shahed Reza, paid tribute to the country鈥檚 second grandmaster with garlands.聽
Among the other four grandmasters of the country, Enamul Hossain Rajib and Abdullah Al Rakib attended the first namaz-e-janaza, while the country鈥檚 first grandmaster, Niaz Murshed, and Reefat Bin-Sattar attended the second namaz-e-janaza, among others.