Dhaka: BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s younger brother Ahmed Kamal has arranged a milad and doa mahfil (religious gathering) for the salvation of his deceased family members with speculations swirling in the political arena that Kamal might join politics.

The programme, held in the city on Wednesday at the city’s Institution of Diploma Engineers’, Bangladesh in the afternoon, was not attended by any BNP leaders or activists,

Some BNP senior leaders earlier doubted about a fresh conspiracy against BNP to split it as Kamal suddenly took the initiative to hold the milad mahfil.

Dropping a hint that he is not coming in politics now, the BNP founder’s brother said he will inform all at the right time if he steps into politics.

In a brief address prior to the prayer programme, Ahmed Kamal said he arranged the programme seeking salvation of the departed souls of his parents, brothers, including Zia and his younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, and other family members. ‘It’s solely a family programme.’

As different media reported various speculations over the programme, Kamal said, ‘I request all not to take this programme otherwise.’

He said the country’s overall situation is now very vulnerable.

‘There’s no democracy now in the country though the government describe it as democracy. Now the country is run by autocracy. Under the circumstances, all should come forward for the welfare of the country and restoration of healthy politics and democracy.’

A BNP vice chairman requesting anonymity on Sunday said that a fresh plot may be hatched to split BNP as it was done after the 1/11 changeover. ‘This time the conspirators may try to use Ahmed Kamal to break the party’s unity.’

But, S Islam Don, a distant relative of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, provided Kamal with all-out support to hold the programme and he joined it.

A police checkpost was installed outside the venue centring the programme. A number of plainclothes police members were seen moving around the venue during the programme.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press briefing, BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon said anybody can arrange doa mahfil for Zia and his deceased family remembers.

Asked as to why their party leaders and activists did not join the programme, he said as they had a schedule briefing at the party headquarters over the sending of their party standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra to jail by a court, the BNP men came to the party office to register their protest 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.