“Saifur Rahman was a talented, patriot and revolutionary reformer. When Bangladesh’s economy got close to destruction and was called a basket case in the hands of a so-called quarter, he rebuilt it under the leadership of Ziaur Rahman,” he said.

Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader also said Saifur changed the country’s economy by adopting open-market policy coming out of the ‘so-called’ socialist thought and the mixed economy.

M Saifur Rahman Parishad arranged the programme, marking the 11th death anniversary of the former finance minister.

Fakhrul said he has doubt whether any finance minister in the world has had so much success in macroeconomy like Saifur. “I have a strong doubt whether we’ll ever get a patriot and brilliant finance minister like Saifur Rahman in the future.”

Fakhrul bemoaned that the current government is now destroying the economy with widespread ‘corruption and plundering’.

"The economy that was built on a solid foundation by Ziaur Rahman and Saifur Rahman is now being dragged down by the current unelected government. The country's economy is being plunged back into the gorge in a planned way,” he alleged.

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The BNP leader said mega projects have been taken for ‘mega’ corruption’ as Awami League’s main target is to make many through ‘plundering’.

He said the government is not taking action against those involved in the share market scam, Bangladesh Bank’s reserve heist, the plundering of banks and financial institutions.

Fakhrul said there is no alternative to 'restoring' democracy with united efforts to get rid of the current situation.

The 11th death anniversary of M Saifur Rahman was observed on Saturday with various programmes.

On September 5, 2009, Saifur, also a former BNP standing committee member, died in a road accident on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at the age of 77.

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