The fourth death anniversary of M Saifur Rahman, the country’s longest-serving finance minister and former BNP standing committee member, was observed with due respect on Thursday. BNP arranged a Milad mahfil at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office around 2 pm attended by party leaders and activists, including, its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. A special munajat was also offered seeking salvation of the departed soul of Saifur. On September 5, 2009, the seasoned politician died in a road accident on Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Saifur met the tragic end of his life in Brahmanbaria district on his way back to Dhaka from his home district of Moulvibazar. Meanwhile, Moulvibazar district unit of BNP also marked the day with different programmes. A maild and doa mahfil was also held at late Saiur’s Baharmardan residence. A delegation of Syleht BNP, led by city mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, paid tributes to Saifur by placing wreaths at his grave around 11am. They also offered fathea and a special prayer there seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of Saifur. Leaders and activists of BNP’s different associate bodies also placed wreaths at his grave showing respect to the late BNP leader. Born at Baharmardan village in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila on October 6, 1932, Saifur was with BNP since its inception as an adviser to late president Ziaur Rahman. He went on to serve in Zia’s cabinet as the first commerce minister and then finance minister. A chartered accountant-turned politician, Saifur had a unique record of preparing 12 budgets since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. He was elected to parliament four times. – UNB
