Former finance minister M Saifur Rahman had worked for the economic development and wellbeing of the country and its people irrespective of any political calculation, said speakers yesterday marking the sixth death anniversary of the BNP top leader.

Saifur Rahamn introduced stipends for female students, worked for education and value added tax (VAT) for the development of the people, former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said at a discussion organised by Durre Samad Rahman and Saifur Rahman Foundation at Jatiya Press Club.

The foundation's Chairman and Saifur Rahman's son M Naser Rahman was in the chair where former governor of Bangladesh Bank Salehuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Chairman Hafiz Ahmed Mazumder, former lawmakers Sultan Mohammad Mansur and Syed Moazzam Hossain Alal, former finance secretaries Zakir Ahmed Khan and Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury, and advocate Abed Raza also spoke.

On this day in 2009, Saifur Rahman died in a road crash on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Ashuganj.

Marking the death anniversary, a doa mahfil will be held at Shah Mostafa shrine in Moulvibazar town while another at BNP central office at the capital's Nayapaltan after Asr prayers, says a press release.

Food will also be distributed among the poor in Moulvibazar, reports our Moulvibazar correspondent.

In a statement, spokesperson for BNP Asaduzzaman Ripon said besides strengthening the country economically, Saifur Rahman also played a vital role in uniting BNP members to protect the independence and sovereignty of the country.

Saifur delivered 12 national budgets in three terms during 1980-81, 1991-1995 and 2002-2006. He participated in the Language Movement and was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2005. Saifur also served the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and IFAD.

His family members requested all to pray for the departed soul.