27 Facts About Zillur Rahman

Mohammed Zillur Rahman was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the President from 2009 until his death in 2013.

Zillur Rahman was a senior presidium member of the Awami League.

Zillur Rahman is the third president of Bangladesh, after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman, to die in office, while being the first to die of natural causes.

Zillur Rahman was born on 9 March 1929 in Bhairab Upazila, Kishoreganj District, his mother's paternal home.

Zillur Rahman's father, Meher Ali Miyan, was a lawyer, the Chairman of the Mymensingh Local Board and Member of the District Board.

Zillur Rahman graduated with an Intermediate of Arts in 1947 from Dhaka College.

Zillur Rahman became close with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the campaign for the 1947 Sylhet referendum.

Zillur Rahman participated in the Bengali language movement of 1952.

Zillur Rahman held a student gathering on 19 February 1952 at Dhaka University as part of the language movement.

Zillur Rahman was the vice-chairman of election steering committee for the greater Mymensingh region during the 1954 election.

Zillur Rahman was the president of the Awami League affiliated East Pakistan Awami Swechchhasebak League.

Zillur Rahman served as the General Secretary of Dhaka District Bar Association.

Later, as an Awami League candidate, Zillur Rahman was elected as a member of parliament in the 1970 national elections of Pakistan.

Zillur Rahman was a contributor to the Daily Joy Bangla.

Zillur Rahman was elected as a member of the parliament in the 1973 general elections.

Zillur Rahman served as a Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives and the deputy leader of parliament in the Awami League government between 1996 and 2001.

Zillur Rahman was re-elected General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League in 1997.

Zillur Rahman was a leader of Bangladesh Awami League and its women's front the Mohila League.

Zillur Rahman was sworn in as the 14th president of Bangladesh on 12 February 2009.

Zillur Rahman was the Chief Scout of Bangladesh and expressed happiness over Bangladesh becoming the 5th largest scout country in the world during his term.

Zillur Rahman had called for the modernizing of the Armed Forces.

Zillur Rahman called for improving ties between the Air Forces of South Asian countries.

Zillur Rahman called for their training to be improved to facilitate the modernization.

Zillur Rahman called for expanding trade and diplomatic ties with Cuba after the Cuban ambassador to Bangladesh presented his credentials on 10 February 2012.

Zillur Rahman exercised his power to grant clemency to as many as 21 individuals while he was in office.

Zillur Rahman was married to fellow Awami League politician Ivy Rahman, the party's secretary for women's affairs.

Zillur Rahman died at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore aged 84 on 20 March 2013 after he was flown to the country by an air ambulance for critical lung infection on 10 March.