BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan today spoke discussion marking 16th death anniversary of Saifur Rahman at Sylhet Shilpakala Academy auditorium. Photo : BSS

SYLHET, Sept 05, 2025 (BSS)- BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan today said the later finance minister Saifur Rahman was the pioneer of introducing VAT to protect country’s economy.

“At that time Awami League had opposed the adoption of the VAT system and enforced strike against the system..but Saifur Rahman’s decision protected the economy,” he said.

Moyeen Khan was addressing a discussion marking 16th death anniversary of Saifur Rahman at Sylhet Shilpakala Academy auditorium here this afternoon.

He said Saifur Rahman gave the country’s economy strong footing through his economic policy. Subsequently, the fascist Awami League government destroyed the economy through encouraging looting and smuggling.

Former Sylhet city Mayor and Adviser to the BNP chairperson Ariful Huq Chowdhury presided over the function.

Recalling his bond with Saifur Rahman, Moyeen Khan said, “When Saifur Rahman was in the commerce ministry my father Abdul Momen Khan was the cabinet secretary. Luckily I also became his colleague later.”

Moyeen Khan, a former minister, said there were significant achievements of Saifur Rahman in country’s economy, but the young generation is yet to know about this.