The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) leader Abdul Jalil yesterday obtained bail from the High Court in a graft case and announced that he had resumed the post of party's general secretary as soon as he was granted bail.

Jalil made this announcement while addresssing the reporters at a press briefing at the Supreme Court Bar Association Hall immediately after his bail order was issued.

AL Acting President Zillur Rahman when contacted said that the party had not taken any decision over this issue whether Jalil would resume as the party secretary or Ashraful Islam, Acting general Secretary of AL, would continue in the post.

Asked what would be the party's decision if any opposition came on resuming the party post by Jalil, Zillur said, " l have not heard about any opposition till now. Let the opposition come, then we will see."

Jalil said, "I was freed on parole for treatment under the condition of not engaging in politics during the provisional release period. Having completed my treatment, I returned home on August 31 and I will start fullscale politics as I have returned to my previous post."

Jalil informed that he appealed for bail to the High Court, as his parole period ended yesterday and the High Court had granted him bail until October 20.

"According to the constitution of AL, I'm supposed to continue to work in my previous capacity in the party. Being respectful to the rule of law, I was waiting for my bail orders. As a bailed person, I now announce my resumption of duties as the Awami League general secretary," said Jalil.

Talking to The New Nation AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said, " No formal decision from the party has been taken on this issue. The Acting President of the party has the right to take any decision."

AL Presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury said, "As per the constitution of the party Jalil may resume the post of general secretary automatically. But a formal announcement should come from party's president or Acting president."

AL Acting general Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam could not be contacted for comment, as he was in Kishoregonj to attend a relative's funeral.

Emerging from the court, Jalil, flanked by his lawyers, told reporters as the government parole on his release had been in force, he could not take the party responsibility on his return from Singapore on August 31 after treatment.

"There is a clause in the party constitution.

There is no ambiguity about taking over the charge of party leadership," he said, 'in the changed context now'.

Jalil said the parole that expired yesterday had barred him from political activities. "No parole now exists and I'm completely free to do active politics which I have been doing for long 45 years."

After his release on parole on health grounds, Jalil flew to Singapore on March 3 and underwent treatment in Mount Elizabeth Hospital for about six months.

When asked about his letter to the Chief Adviser, which was read out by his wife before media-men pleading for his release in exchange for quitting politics before going to Singapore, he denied outright having made such pleas.

"Don't try to confuse (people) over it," an apparently annoyed Jalil told the reporters, retracting all that had been stated under his name while in custody during the days of political perils caused by a clean-up drive after the January 1, 2007 changeover following a political crisis over election issues.

Jalil, in a letter to Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, had also come down heavily on his party president and ex-PM Sheikh Hasina for what he had said her dictatorial leadership.

That was at a time when the interim regime had been pressing the parties to do internal political reform, particularly banishing what was called dynastic leadership, to avert further crisis.

Earlier in the day, the High Court granted him provisional bail in the case on charges of amassing wealth through illegal means and hiding wealth-related information.

The court issued a notice to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to clarify why the accused should not be granted permanent bail in the case.

The vacation bench of Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Mamnun Rahman delivered the bail order after hearing bail appeal.

Barrister Ameer-Ul-Islam on Tuesday made the bail appeal while the home ministry on Tuesday extended Jalil's provisional bail until September 20.