BNP's 3-day mourning begins today

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia pays last respect to former finance minister M Saifur Rahman at his residence at Gulshan in the city yesterday. Photo: BNP

BNP has announced a three-day mourning period beginning today in memory of its leader and former finance minister M Saifur Rahman, who died in a road accident yesterday.
During the period, party flags will be hoisted at half-mast alongside black flags at the party offices across the country and a discussion and maild mahfil will be held on September 8.
The party postponed its parliamentary party meeting, which was scheduled for last night. It also suspended today's protests against price hike of essentials in the capital and divisional headquarters.
Paying tribute to the late leader, a party worker yesterday said BNP without Saifur Rahman was unimaginable, despite all the controversial events involving him during the emergency when the political parties went through crisis.
He [Saifur] played an important role as a close associate of late president Ziaur Rahman in floating the party and stood by the party chairperson Khaleda Zia when many senior leaders deserted the party during the Ershad regime, the party leaders said.
"We are shocked at his death as he was one of the most senior leaders of the party. He worked for the country as well as the party with late president Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia for a long time. His death has left a permanent void in the party," said Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, a long-time party and cabinet colleague of Saifur Rahman.
His contribution to developing BNP as a major political party would be remembered forever, he added.
The party needs a dedicated leader like Saifur Rahman at a time when it is undergoing a reorganising process, BNP's joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan said.
"The party is now passing through a critical time. His death is an irreparable loss for the party," he said.
Saifur Rahman, who had been a member of the party standing committee for long, quit the committee in April.