Out-of-favour Jalil hits out at several ministers, AL stalwarts

Ruling Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil yesterday alleged that many ministers in the grand alliance government are “paid agents of DGFI".

Talking exclusively with a few reporters at his Mercantile Bank office in the city, he said, "We were the ones beaten up and tortured but now we are being punished, while those who work as DGFI agents are being hailed as heroes.”

All those [leaders] who managed to be out of jail during the caretaker government were the agents of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), he noted.

More precisely, he said, AL presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, and Suranjit Sengupta “worked for the intelligence agency in efforts to have an Awami League minus Sheikh Hasina”.

They held meetings with DGFI officials every morning and afternoon, he added. “Tell me who didn't act as agents?"

Referring to LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, he asked, “Under whose assurance he returned after fleeing to London?”

"Amu, Razzak, Tofail and Suranjit have committed a crime by attempting to get rid of Sheikh Hasina in the name of reforms.

“But what wrong did I do? I took her side. Why should she see us in the same light? It's not right that I'm being punished while they are better off even after scheming against her and the party."

Asked if he thinks raising these allegations might harm him, he said, "I have nothing to fear as long as my people are with me."

Jalil, who was arrested by the army-led joint forces during the caretaker government, also described the conditions under which he issued the much-talked about letter where he levelled many an allegation against Hasina, and said if necessary he would quit politics.

"I didn't write any letter. It was the DGFI who issued the letter. My wife didn't read any letter; she only filed a three-sentence appeal for my release on health grounds.

“DGFI men posed as journalists and distributed the letters. They would torture me every night to have me sign the so-called letter. After several days, I gave in to pressure as they threatened to arrest my wife and children."

Jalil observed that the AL constitution has been violated for not letting him play the role of general secretary.

"I didn't want to be a minister. All I wanted is to discharge the duties mandated by the party council. I don't know what I did to deserve this.”

Queried if he would quit the post, he said, "I will not resign. I will continue my fight against all that is unjust."

Asked whether he has raised the issue at party forum, the member of parliament from Naogaon-5 said, "Yes. I have talked to her [Sheikh Hasina] about this. In a letter around a month back, I've asked her under which rules the joint general-secretary-2 issues official letters and cards when the general secretary is still there.

“I requested her to tell me if it's her order. If it's indeed hers, I told her, I'd rethink my future. And if it's not, it should be corrected. She however did not reply to any of my queries."

Asked if he had spoken to the AL president before declaring himself fit to assume the role as general secretary after being freed on bail, he said, "How can you think I'd do that without speaking to her."

"I told her I'm getting back home, and that I can't secure bail if I don't return. She said, 'ok, go ahead but be careful'."

Asked who he would blame for the way he finds himself now, he said, "No one. It's my fate. It's because I took a firm stand in favour of Sheikh Hasina."

Talking about the government and the party, he said, "Infiltrators are damaging both and will continue to do so."

On the notice served on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to vacate her cantonment residence, Jalil said, "Cantonment is not a place to do politics; the government has taken the right decision."

About the performance of the government so far, he said, "The prices of essentials have come down, farmers are happy with the low price of fertiliser, production has gone up and people are inspired.”

Citing BDR carnage, he said the prime minister scotched the conspiracies quite brilliantly and that too all on her own. The entire nation is rallying around her on the issue of war crime trial."

Source: The Daily Star