Wednesday 30 September 2009

M Saifur Rahman was the Hero of Bangladesh

M Saifur Rahman was our hero. The Hero of Bangladesh. Little we know about his vast works that he proudly done throughout his life. He was a member of the World’s Economic Think Tank.

He participated in the Language Movement in 1952 when he was the vice-president of Dhaka Muslim Hall for which he also had to land in jail.

It’s a great tragedy that he was not buried with the dignity he so much deserved. The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not even show the least courtesy giving her condolence. How poor narrow minded it is.

But we are a great nation and well deserve a decent broadminded Prime Minister.

KM Abu Taher Chowdhury
Community Leader

Saifur Rahman: Architect of Bangladesh Economy

Former finance minister and the reformer with biggest contribution to building free market economy in Bangladesh, Saifur Rahman was killed in a road accident yesterday.


budget_press01

The reform man

Star Report

An assiduous person that he was, Bangladesh’s longest serving finance minister M Saifur Rahman was loved by the audience for his serious remarks laced with humour, often in his own Sylheti dialect. Wherever he was, he always carried an air of freshness in ideas, vigorous conviction and straightforwardness. And through decades of his political career and wisdom, Saifur almost became a true statesman, often criticising his own party stances on issues such as hartal and anti-privatisation sabre-rattling. Inside his party, he was one of the few saner heads respected across the file and rank.

We also have published above similar news story
From The Star, Bangladesh


I have so much respect for late Saifur Rahman

I think you are doing a great job. I have so much respect for late Saifur Rahman which I can not express in words. I also have so much memories which I will share with you in some time.

Cllr.Ohid.Ahmed@towerhamlets.gov.uk

M Saifur Rahman’s unforeseen death touched my heart

M Saifur Rahman’s unforeseen death touched my heart so much that I Ask God why did HE not end his life in a rather comfortable way rather than taking his life in a such cruel and unthinkable way. Any death is deplorable. However Mr. Saifur’s death was rather more deplorable, more saddened, more tragic and more heartbroken.

To me he was an excellent accountant turned politician turned economist. I will miss him a lot.

Shahagir Bakth FARUK

Chairman

British Bangladesh Chamber of commerce

Bangladesh's longest-serving Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman

Bangladesh's longest-serving Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman was buried on Monday at the family graveyard in Baharmardan of Moulavibazar after he died in a car crash on Saturday, 5 Sept. 09.
He represented Bangladesh in the Commonwealth, UN, World Bank and International Developemt Aid meetings and strictly maintained the policy of potraying us not as beggers but a country with millions of hard working people and overseas remittance earners and a number of innovative devlopment paradigms to gift to the world such as Micro-credit, Non-formal Education, Disaster Management and Women empowerment.

As a Finance Minister he always blatantly criticised impcompetency in civil service and gave opportunites to merit hard working officers. He did bring a number of reforms in Revenue Generation and NBR service as well.

Business community loved him for creating a most business friendly policy package for industrialisation which triggered the highest industrial growth rate in Bangladesh during his two tenures as Finance Minister. And, he inrtoduced them in the face of stiff opposition from World Bank and donors who always prescribe anti-industry reform pacakges that increase business costs.
'The last act is always tragic, however happy all the rest of the play is.
At the last,
a little earth is thrown upon our head,
and that is the end for ever.....'
Dr. Hasanat Husain MBE
Convenor,
Voice For Justice World Forum

Dear Mr Ahmed,

I read your tribute to the late Mr Saifur Rahman with interest.

I came to know Mr. Rahman in 1976 when President Ziaur Rahman appointed him Commerce Minister in his Cabinet of Talents. Zia told me earlier in February that year he was contemplating bringing in leading technocrats in the government in a bid to solve the country's dire problems.

It was fortunate for Bangladesh that Saifur Rahman was moved to the finance ministry shortly afterwards. In this capacity he served four governments - two under Zia and two under Begum Khaleda Zia. During this time Bangladesh made great strides in economic development. He served a considerable period as aboard member of the World Bank and was for a period its Vice President. That helped Bangladesh's cause immensely.

I had the honour of interviewing him on several occasions for the BBC. I was greatly impressed not only by his great grasp of finance and economics but also by his kindness and generosity.

His demise is a great blow and loss for Bangadesh. May Allah grant him Jannatul Ferdous in the next world.

Serajur Rahman,

Former Head BBC Bangla
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Thank you, I appreciate your efforts a lot to publish this Blog that speaks for it self and concerns us a lot.

Vote of thanks received from Enam Ahmed Choudhury, Senior Politician, Dhaka Bangladesh.

M Saifur Rahman's legacy for Sylhet is unforgettable but for the Nation is Immortal

By Shofi Ahmed

The actors, who play the lead role, also leave the stage. They also die. However, when their death is unexpected and a tragic one, the scene becomes an even more dramatic and touches the heart and soul of its audience. This is regular class acts that brisk at the theatre, though hundreds of years may have passed in between, but once in a blue moon, it can be spotted live on the ground and when that physically happens to a tribe then a nation finds a true legend was born amongst them!

Bangladesh may be economically a developing country but it enjoyed, such a memorable performance from one of its son, the late Finance Minister, Mr Saifur Rahman. Who unexpectedly died on September 5, 2009 at the age of 77 in a road traffic accident in broad daylight, on a road, which epitomises his economic achievements.

The economic genius, Mr Rahman painstakingly crafted the economic mosaic of Bangladesh and built a sustainable financial infrastructure. He has left an economic model for the nation, which the future generation can build on and continue to improve the quality of life of the people in Bangladesh. We can all be proud of Mr Rahman’s, notably, economic vision, a legacy, which will be remembered by the future generations.

However, while I was writing this, I saw Dr Mohammad Yunus on my TV screen, the country's only Noble Laureate economist, reflecting on the work and achievements of Mr Rahman. He openly proclaimed the fact that Mr Rahman laid the economic foundation of Bangladesh on which we can continue to develop and build on to make Bangladesh a more phosphorous country. This is his true identity,

His work in Sylhet is clear for all to see and his achievements in Sylhet and in Bangladesh generally will be remembered for many years to come but Mr Rahman’s international contribution and his global stature is also second to none. He played a leading role in the World Bank and IMF. In particular, his advice and guidance was valued and respected often guided them to achieve new dimensions.

Mr Rahman may have left us and may Allah bless his soul but his legacy will remain immortal and although, he may not have won a Noble prize, but we can be proud of the fact that he was equal amongst equals on the International stage. He has always strived to give a positive image of Bangladesh on the International arena.

With him one could hardly draw an end. He would have a cup of tea for other nations that has been well received and being recognized. His financial vision was so widespread that it princely mapped the world. Thus while he had at his disposal as much as a full dozen of budgets presented to his nation, he could spare time for the wider world as well.

The international community respected him as a politician and recognised and valued his economic contribution and his vision. They stood by him even at his death and this was evident from the long lines of mourners waiting to sign the book of condolences, which was led by the American Ambassador, the British High Commissioner and other world diplomats in Bangladesh. The Indian Premier Mon Mohon Singh was also deeply touched by his death.

However, our prime minister, Sheikh Hasina and her government was unmoved and remained officially silent about the death of Mr Rahman. That has to progress yet a long distance to catch up with the civilized world. Sheikh Hasina has successfully put through this notion to the nation and the international community. We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of a great son of Bangladesh his death has united us and the loss was felt by us all.