Former Bangladesh national cricket team captain Tamim Iqbal on Thursday extended his helping hands to the family of late Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman, who passed away at a city hospital on July 5.
Zia, 50, tragically passed away on July 5 after suffering a cardiac arrest during the 12th round of the National Chess Championship.
Tamim handed over a cheque of Tk five lakh to Zia鈥檚 widow, Tasmin Sultana Labanya, and his only son, FIDE master Tahsin Tajwar Zia, at the indoor facilities of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
鈥楾amim gave Tk five lakh to my son and told me to remain in contact with him for any kind of help. He adviced my son to keep focus on studies and playing chess,鈥� Labanya told reporters in Mirpur.
Tamim came forward to help in the wake of media reports about the financial constraints of Zia鈥檚 family after his death.
Zia dreamt that his son would follow his path of becoming a Grandmaster, and 19-year-old Tahsin has been doing exactly that even after facing hardship following his father鈥檚 death.
鈥楬e is a big cricketer from Bangladesh. I feel really happy to meet him. He adviced me about many things, and it was an inspiring moment for me,鈥� said Tahsin.
Meanwhile, Labanya also informed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board has also expressed their interest in supporting her son so that he can follow his father鈥檚 path and become a Grandmaster one day.
鈥楤CB wants to help in Tahsin鈥檚 next tournament. Sujon bhai [BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chaowdhury] told me to write an application to the [BCB] president in the process of doing so,鈥� she added.