President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of former military dictator and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad.

In separate messages on Sunday (Jul 14) the President and the Prime Minister prayed for the salvation of his departed soul.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a condolence message recalled his constructive role in Parliament as the opposition leader.

Both the president and premier expressed deep sympathy for his bereaved family.

Ershad, who has been on life support for the last 10 days, breathed his last at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka around 7:45am on Sunday.

The 90-year-old deposed military dictator has been suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome or a low-level of haemoglobin in his blood for long.

Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah and Chief Whip Noor-E Alam Chowdhury have also condoled his death.

He had been suffering from various old-age complications, including low haemoglobin and liver problems, high bilirubin and serious knee pain.