Bangladesh's figurehead president dies at a Singapore hospital at age 84

Published January 13, 2015

Bangladesh's figurehead president has died at a hospital in Singapore. He was 84.

The office of President Zillur Rahman says he died late Wednesday afternoon Bangladesh time. He was flown to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital on March 10 for treatment of respiratory problems.

Rahman's death does not affect the government as Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy, with the prime minister holding the executive powers.

The president's office says parliamentary speaker Abdul Hamid will act as the president until the legislature elects a new one.

Rahman was a top leader of Bangladesh's ruling Awami League party before Parliament elected him president in 2009.

In offering her condolences, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described Rahman as a patriotic leader.

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