Rizvi raises red flag over Saifur’s road death

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has called for an investigation into the death of former finance minister M Saifur Rahman in a road accident, questioning whether it was merely an accident or whether a conspiracy lay behind it.

He made the remarks on Monday at a discussion at the National Press Club in Dhaka marking the 17th death anniversary of Saifur Rahman.

Rizvi said the circumstances surrounding the death of an economist and statesman of Saifur Rahman’s stature warranted scrutiny. He questioned whether the former finance minister, who he credited with laying a strong foundation for Bangladesh’s economy, died in an accident or fell victim to a national or international conspiracy.

He said Saifur Rahman had become a national asset through his various contributions and his achievements were recognised both at home and abroad. No one who served as finance minister after him could surpass him, he claimed.

Rizvi praised Saifur Rahman’s economic management and said he made important contributions to building the foundation of the country’s economy. He was also respected internationally for his economic management, he said.

“As a finance minister, Saifur Rahman was an economic manager who stopped money laundering. He was praised across the world. He had great capacity as a finance minister. His agricultural economic programmes removed the hardship of the Kartik month in the country,” Rizvi said.