Grand Master Enamul Hossian Razjb could not control his emotions, as tears rolled down when he reminiscence the last moments with his fellow Grand Masters Ziaur Rahman Zia, who breathed his last on Friday.
The second Grand Master of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman Zia passed away on Friday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest during the 12th round match of the National Chess Championship against Enamul Hossain Rajib at National Sports Council (NSC), leaving the country’s sports arena shocked with grief with his sudden demise at the age of 50.
After the body of Ziaur Rahman Zia arrived at the premises of the NSC Old building on Saturday, the arena turned into a place of mourning when players and officials of almost all disciplines and sports federations gathered at his Namaz-e-Janaza.
Rajib, when describing the shocking moments of the last episode Zia to Bangladesh Post on Saturday after his (Zia) Namaz-e-janaja at the NSC Bhabah (Old) said, “It’s really hard to explain the painful moments.”
“It was a match between him and me of the ongoing National Chess Championship when both of us had a very slim chance to be champions, as there were so much equations Then I was thinking to draw.”
“During our matches, sometimes we take a break just for a few seconds, take water, just to regain the concentration, I thought Zia Bhai was picking up a bottle of water to his right side. When 10 to 15 seconds gone, I was just confused, what’s wrong with him and I called him but he did not respond, as he fell down.”
“When he was playing he had shown no signs of discomfort. Everyone rushed to him, he was senseless and was immediately rushed to the Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital but was declared dead by the on duty doctor,” Rajib recalled the situation.
“Since the boyhood time, when I got chance in the Chess Olympiad, we played so many tournaments in home and abroad, stayed together. We had been always trying to be live as a family. He was our inspiration. I will never forget that 15 to 20 seconds time (Rajib again burst into tears).”
“There are so many memories with Zia Bhai, during international tournaments in home and abroad, Zia Bhai always inspired us and used to guide us.”
Rajib Bhai was excellent as a human being, he had no any bad habits. He even offered his prayers during the games. During the Asian Games in China last year, he was not performing well and he felt unhappy. But he was concerned about my performance.”
Abdullah Al Rakib, one of the five Grand Masters of Bangladesh also shared some of his memories with the Bangladesh Post before the Namaz-e-Zanaja of Ziaur Rahman Zia.
“Actually I have numerous memories with him during our chess journey. A simple, big- hearted man, team-mate like him is really very rare. His strong ethics and sincerity always inspired us.”
“I think his contribution to the sport of Bangladesh will be remembered for a long. I can’t describe all these words.”
“Zia Bhai only the player, who took the game as profession, despite it is too tough,” Rakib said.
Meanwhile, Shahed Reza Chowdhury, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), Tarafder Mohammed Ruhul Amin, vice-president of the Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF) and Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim the general secretary of the (BCF), who attended the Namaz-e-janaza of Zia, told that they would try to provide financial help to the family of late Ziur Rahman Zia.
