Bangladesh president dies in Singapore—embassy

In this photograph taken on February 12, 2009 newly-elected president Zillur Rahman stands at the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Dhaka. Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, a veteran ruling party politician, died at a Singapore hospital on March 20, 2013 at the age 84, officials told AfP. AFP PHOTO/STR/FILES

DHAKA—Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, a veteran ruling party politician, died Wednesday in a Singapore hospital where he was being treated for kidney and respiratory problems, an embassy official told AFP.

“The president died at a hospital here in Singapore at 6:47 p.m. local time,” Bangladesh High Commissioner in Singapore M. Mahbubuzzaman told AFP by phone, referring to the 84-year-old.