BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said there are suspicions surrounding the death of former Finance, Planning and Commerce Minister M Saifur Rahman.

“Whether Saifur Rahman’s death was merely an accident or whether there was any national or international conspiracy behind it – that is also something we need to find out today,” Rizvi said while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking the 17th death anniversary of the veteran BNP leader.

The M Saifur Rahman Memorial Council organised the programme at Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club.

Saifur Rahman died in a road accident on September 5, 2009, at the age of 77, when his vehicle plunged into a roadside water-filled ditch in Brahmanbaria while he was returning to Dhaka from his ancestral home in Moulvibazar.

The accident occurred after his driver reportedly swerved to avoid a stray cow, and Saifur Rahman was pronounced dead at Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital after being trapped in the vehicle.

Rizvi said, “He was a person who was laying the foundation of an economy for a small, impoverished country like ours – something that many countries appreciated.

"When Saifur Rahman introduced Value Added Tax (VAT), there was widespread criticism from various quarters, including the Awami League. When it was introduced in 1991, there was extensive debate and criticism in the parliament", he added.

“However, even after coming to power later, the Awami League couldn't suspend or abolish the VAT system. It infused life into Bangladesh's economy. This is Saifur Rahman's contribution," he said.

Rizvi said that even when the BNP was in opposition, its political rivals could not strongly criticise him personally over his stature, management capacity and economic management skills, as his competence and ability were well established among the people.

"Saifur Rahman was such an economic manager who didn't allow incidents like money laundering, bank looting, or using bank funds to meet the government's budget deficit," he said.

Rizvi noted that during Saifur Rahman's tenure, banks remained transparent and budgets were formulated through tax collection.

He further said, "The subsequent 17 years were an economy of plunder, a budget of plunder. The entire country has been rendered economically empty and hollow. Plunder and money laundering have been turned into a culture of our economy."

The veteran BNP leader said Saifur Rahman's goal was to make individuals economically self-reliant and help them stand on their own feet.

"Saifur Rahman knew how to make a person self-reliant and economically independent," he added.

Rizvi further said that when Saifur Rahman was the Finance Minister and the BNP was in power, the stock market was not looted.

"During his economic management from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006, he took appropriate steps to prevent irregularities in the stock market."

Rizvi continued, "Saifur Rahman used his intellect, skill, and management abilities to transform a backward and poor country into an economically self-reliant one through reforms. For this, he was also respected internationally."

The Acting Secretary General also highlighted various public welfare initiatives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

"Matters of public welfare have been emphasized in the announcements of family cards, farmer cards, expatriate cards, health cards, canal excavation programs and various social safety net initiatives," Rizvi said.

He expressed hope that under Tarique Rahman's leadership, the BNP will once again lead the country towards achieving food self-sufficiency and progress towards prosperity.

"It is the expectation of the people of this country that poverty in Bangladesh will be completely eradicated and the country will become a prosperous nation." added Rizvi.

M Naser Rahman, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Land and son of Saifur Rahman, presided over the event, while National Parliament Whip G K Gouse was present as the special guest.