Unease in BNP deepens

Zia�s brother holds doa mahfil; party �unwilling� to take it seriously

Amid rumours of a ‘possible division’ in the BNP, party founder and late president Ziaur Rahman’s younger brother Ahmed Kamal yesterday held a doa mahfil (special prayer session) with a call to restore democracy in the country.
Kamal, who has never been involved in politics, held the programme at the diploma engineers’ institution in the capital at a time when top BNP leaders are accusing the government of making bids to split the party.
Despite being invited, no BNP leaders or activists attended the programme, which Kamal claimed to have organised to pray for the salvation of the souls of his family members, including Ziaur Rahman and his younger son Arafat Rahman Koko.
The rumour of a division in the BNP runs high following the recent resignation of party’s vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and subsequent announcement of the doa mahfil by Kamal, a retired government official. Chowdhury resigned from all posts of the party on October 29 citing health reasons.
As different media reported speculations over the programme, Kamal said, “I request all to refrain from taking this programme otherwise.”
Zia’s younger brother, however, did not rule out the possibility of joining politics, saying he will inform all at an appropriate time if he joins politics.
Although Kamal claimed the programme was organised only to pray for the salvation of the departed souls of his family members, he made political comments and criticised the government’s role in ensuring healthy politics.
“There is no real democracy in Bangladesh. The country is being run under a dictatorship,” he told about 200 guests at the programme, mostly youths and unfamiliar faces.
Describing the present situation of the country as vulnerable, Kamal called upon all to come forward to restore ‘appropriate and healthy politics and democracy’ for the welfare of the country.
Prayers were offered at the programme for the salvation of the departed souls of Kamal’s family members including his parents, Mansur Rahman and Jahanara Khatun, brothers -- late President Ziaur Rahman, Rezaur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman and Khalilur Rahman -- and nephew Arafat Rahman Koko.
Ahmed Kamal, 68, who retired as a general manager of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in 2006, lives in Bashabo area of the capital. A confirmed bachelor, Kamal obtained his bachelor’s degree from Karachi University in Pakistan. When contacted, BNP Standing Committee Member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The Independent that the programme was mainly a religious function, and they do not want to give it a political treatment.
Mahbub, however, questioned the selection of the venue for the doa mahfil as such programmes are customarily held at homes or mosques.
“I don’t want to take it seriously, whether there was any political motive behind it,” he added.
Speaking at a briefing, BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said anybody can arrange doa mahfil for Zia and his deceased family remembers, said news agency UNB.
Asked why their party leaders and activists did not join the programme, Ripon said as they had a schedule briefing at the party headquarters over the sending of party standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy to jail by a court, the BNP men came to the party office to register protests instead of taking part in the milad.
Replying to another query whether they see any plot against their party behind holding such a programme, Ripon parried the question, saying journalists can look into the matter.

Unease in BNP deepens

Zia�s brother holds doa mahfil; party �unwilling� to take it seriously

Amid rumours of a possible division in the BNP, party founder and late president Ziaur Rahmans younger brother Ahmed Kamal yesterday held a doa mahfil (special prayer session) with a call to restore democracy in the country. Kamal, who has never been involved in politics, held the programme at the diploma engineers institution in the capital at a time when top BNP leaders are accusing the government of making bids to split the party. Despite being invited, no BNP leaders or activists attended the programme, which Kamal claimed to have organised to pray for the salvation of the souls of his family members, including Ziaur Rahman and his younger son Arafat Rahman Koko. The rumour of a division in the BNP runs high following the recent resignation of partys vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and subsequent announcement of the doa mahfil by Kamal, a retired government official. Chowdhury resigned from all posts of the party on October 29 citing health reasons. As different media reported speculations over the programme, Kamal said, I request all to refrain from taking this programme otherwise. Zias younger brother, however, did not rule out the possibility of joining politics, saying he will inform all at an appropriate time if he joins politics. Although Kamal claimed the programme was organised only to pray for the salvation of the departed souls of his family members, he made political comments and criticised the governments role in ensuring healthy politics. There is no real democracy in Bangladesh. The country is being run under a dictatorship, he told about 200 guests at the programme, mostly youths and unfamiliar faces. Describing the present situation of the country as vulnerable, Kamal called upon all to come forward to restore appropriate and healthy politics and democracy for the welfare of the country. Prayers were offered at the programme for the salvation of the departed souls of Kamals family members including his parents, Mansur Rahman and Jahanara Khatun, brothers -- late President Ziaur Rahman, Rezaur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman and Khalilur Rahman -- and nephew Arafat Rahman Koko. Ahmed Kamal, 68, who retired as a general manager of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in 2006, lives in Bashabo area of the capital. A confirmed bachelor, Kamal obtained his bachelors degree from Karachi University in Pakistan. When contacted, BNP Standing Committee Member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The Independent that the programme was mainly a religious function, and they do not want to give it a political treatment. Mahbub, however, questioned the selection of the venue for the doa mahfil as such programmes are customarily held at homes or mosques. I dont want to take it seriously, whether there was any political motive behind it, he added. Speaking at a briefing, BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said anybody can arrange doa mahfil for Zia and his deceased family remembers, said news agency UNB. Asked why their party leaders and activists did not join the programme, Ripon said as they had a schedule briefing at the party headquarters over the sending of party standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy to jail by a court, the BNP men came to the party office to register protests instead of taking part in the milad. Replying to another query whether they see any plot against their party behind holding such a programme, Ripon parried the question, saying journalists can look into the matter.