Former BNP state minister Ziaul Haque Zia dies

Former state minister Ziaul Haque Zia has died at the age of 64.

He passed away at 8:30am on Friday while under treatment for cancer at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, his son Mushfiqul Haque told bdnews24.com.

His mortal remains would be brought to Bangladesh on Saturday, he said.

Zia, who had been suffering from cancer for long, came to Bangladesh during Eid-ul-Azha this year but was taken back to Bangkok as his condition deteriorated.

Born on Mar 11, 1953, he started working in Rupali Bank. He joined the BNP in 1986 and was elected MP from Lakshmipur-1 seat thrice.

He was appointed as a state minister for the local government during the 2001-2006 BNP regime. He was denied nomination in the following general elections for being as a 'reformist'.

The former BNP leader was charged with extortion and corruption in a number of cases by the army-backed caretaker government.

Zia was given a 31-year jail term in one of the cases but he later secured bail in another case. Other cases have been stalled by the court.