The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday said that Syed Ashraful Islam will continue to work as general secretary of Awami league till the party president Sheikh Hasina returns home from the United States of America after completing her treatment.

The decision on Abdul Jalil's resumption of the post of general secretary rests with Sheikh Hasina and a final decision on him will be taken after she returns home, Zillur added.

Talking to reporters at his Gulshan residence, Zillur said the party was unable to restore Jallil to the party post he held before his internment due to some technical problems.

He at the same breath reminded that Jalil announced his retirement from active politics and resignation from the post of general secretary during his incarceration.

It should be recalled here that on July 2, 2007, Jalil forwarded a letter to the President Iazuddin Ahmed and the Chief Adviser Fakruddin Ahmed informing his decision to quit politics.

After a few days, Jalil's wife Rehana Jalil arranged a press conference at their Gulshan residence and handed over copies of Jalil's letter to journalists.

According to the letter Jalil notified his sickness and family obligations as reasons for retiring from active politics. "I have decided to quit politics considering my health, which is deteriorating day by day and my family," he said.

In the letter he also said, "The Awami League has now lost its democratic character and turned into an autocratic party. There is no way out of the iron grip of our president, who enjoys total authority, which has ruined the party today."

Zillur further said the party was not restoring him on the post for some technical problem since Jalil had decided to retire from politics.

Asked to explain the technical problem, Zillur said that Jalil had resigned his party general secretary's position under special circumstances. His resignation issue was yet to be finalised, he noted.

He termed Jalil's announcement after obtaining bail order that he would continue to act as party general secretary 'a hasty decision'.

Asked if there will be any adverse effect on the party for giving the post of party general secretary to a joint general secretary, Zillur avoided direct reply and simply said, "Jalil will always be with us. We have not lost him."

Reporters failed to track Jalil till yesterday. He could neither be reached over telephone.