Tamim extends support to late Grandmaster Zia's family in heartfelt gesture

In a heartfelt gesture, Tamim Iqbal extended his support to the family of late Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman on Thursday, presenting Zia's son, Tawzwar Zia, with a cheque for 5 lakh taka at Mirpur Stadium.

Zia, who tragically passed away on 5 July after collapsing mid-match during the 12th round of the National Chess Championship, was a respected figure in Bangladesh's chess community.

Months after his sudden passing, promises to support his family had largely gone unfulfilled until Tamim stepped forward. Zia's wife, Tasmin Sultana, joined her son to receive the donation, a gesture she described as both moving and deeply respectful of Zia's legacy.

Tawzwar has ambitious dreams of following in his father's footsteps to become a Super Grandmaster, but financial limitations have made this journey challenging.

Other than a modest flat in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Zia's family has little to fall back on. Many organisations and individuals had pledged support, but few had actually come forward meaningfully.

Known for his generosity towards fellow athletes, organisers, and journalists in times of need, Tamim once again showed his commitment to supporting the sporting community with this financial contribution.

Tasmin, Zia's wife, expressed her gratitude to Tamim for the support. She told reporters, "He (Tamim) spoke to me and shared kind words about my son. Tamim is one of the finest players in Bangladesh's cricket world, and he has honoured Zia's memory by helping us. It means so much that he provided 5 lakh taka for my son."

On Thursday morning, Tasmin and Tawzwar arrived at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. They were seen speaking to reporters at the indoor facility, reflecting on Zia's dreams of nurturing his son's talent. Tasmin believes that achieving Zia's dream requires collective support, saying, "I've always said that my son needs to move forward, and that requires united support. If everyone comes forward, I believe everything will turn out well."

Tasmin also shared her disappointment that no substantial support had yet reached the family since Zia's passing. "We haven't received anything so far, even though Zia devoted his life to representing Bangladesh, both at home and internationally. He deserves honour, and while it's delayed, I hope he and others will be honoured in the future," she said.

Tawzwar also spoke of his joy in meeting Tamim, noting how the encounter left him inspired. "He's such a great cricketer for Bangladesh, and it felt really good to meet him. Tamim offered me a lot of advice about life, which was very motivating. He encouraged me to keep up with both my studies and chess."

Ending the visit on a positive note, Tasmin highlighted the impact of Tamim's advice and support, saying, "He gave my son wonderful guidance and promised to stand by him whenever needed."