Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury today said axing Abdul Jalil from the parliamentary standing committee did not come as punishment. "Abdul Jalil termed himself as 'mentally imbalanced," Sajeda told reports at a programme on the 25th death anniversary of Sheikh Moyezuddin, private television channel ATN Bangla reports.

Former Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil was dropped from the post of chairman of parliamentary standing committee on the commerce ministry yesterday. Replying to a question whether Jalil would be axed from the parliamentary post, she said it was up to the law to decide his fate.

Former AL general secretary Abdul Jalil earlier annoyed the party high command by making derogatory statements about the party and the parliamentary election that the AL won by a landslide. Jalil had said the party's landslide in the December 29 election came through 'understanding' with the military-backed caretaker government.

-Daily Star

Jalil removed as JS panel chief as he is insane: Sajeda

The New Age: The ruling Awami League’s presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury on Wednesday said that the party’s advisory council member Abdul Jalil was removed as the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the commerce ministry as he was ‘mentally imbalanced’.

Talking to reporters after attending a discussion at Naya Paltan in the city, Sajeda, also deputy leader of the house, said a decision on Jalil’s membership in the parliament could be made after a psychiatric test. She attended the discussion marking the 25th anniversary of death of the party leader Moizuddin, also the founding-president of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh. ‘If Jalil is found unsound after medical check-up, his membership of the parliament would go automatically,’ Sajeda said. Earlier, on October 3, AL general secretary, Syed Ashraful Islam termed Jalil unbalanced and said, ‘What action could be taken against a crackpot.’ But later he explained his comments saying that none could call someone insane unless it was proved by a medical test.

The AL central working committee meeting held on October 3, however, did not take any decision on Jalil for his diatribe against the party leaders and casting aspersions on the validity of the last parliamentary elections. The AL president, Sheikh Hasina, also the prime minister, later said action would be taken against Jalil at ‘an appropriate time’. Jalil, the AL’s former general secretary, returned home on Tuesday night from London. During his stay in London he said the Awami League had reached an understanding with the immediate-past military-controlled government before the December 29 elections. He also said he had made a mistake by not opposing Hasina when she returned home in 2007. But Jalil later retracted his comments and said sorry.

Jalil stayed put in his Gulshan residence since his return from London Tuesday night. A number of reporters from both print and electronic media went to his house but none was allowed in. A few employees of his Mercantile Bank and some leaders from his Naogaon constituency were allowed to visit him. They said Jalil was well. When asked if there was any move to bring the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party back to the parliament, Sajeda said the treasury bench had taken such initiatives several times and it was continuing the efforts.

‘They [opposition] have also been elected by the people’s votes and it is their responsibility to talk in the house for the people of their respective constituencies,’ she said. About terrorism, corruption, extortion and tender manipulation, the deputy leader of the house said that the people involved in such crimes had no party identities and they always tried to identify themselves as men of the party in power for personal gains. Sajeda urged all to beware of such elements in the society.

Jalil's JS membership hinges on doc's report

The Indepedent: Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad and a member of the ruling Awami League Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury said yesterday that party's former general secretary and a member of its advisory council, Abdul Jalil, was removed from the post of chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the commerce ministry as he was mentally imbalanced.

Talking to reporters after attending a discussion at the auditorium of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB) at Naya Paltan, she said a decision would be taken about Abdul Jalil's membership in the Jatiya Sangsad after doctor's examination report. Sajeda Chowdhury attended a discussion meeting marking the 25th death anniversary of slain Awami League leader, Maizuddin, the founder president of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB). His (Abdul Jalil) membership of the Jatiya Sangsad would go automatically, if he is found mentally imbalanced after medical examination, the Deputy Leader of the House said.

"Earlier on October 3, Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam emerging from the first meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) after the national council of the party held on July 24, wondered what action could be taken against a person who termed himself (Abdul Jalil) as mentally imbalanced." However, the ALCWC meeting did not take any decision against Abdul Jalil for his derogatory remarks against the party leaders and casting aspersions on the validity of the last parliamentary elections. The party president Sheikh Hasina, however, said she would take action against Abdul Jalil at an appropriate time taking into consideration his contributions and long service to the party as her deputy.

Abdul Jalil returned home on Tuesday night from London. While he was in London, he said that the Awami League had come to power through negotiations with the immediate-past military-backed caretaker government that ruled the country for about two years from 2006. He also said he made a mistake by not going against the party chief, Sheikh Hasina, when she returned home in 2007. Later he retracted his comments and said sorry. Responding to a question about opposition the BNPs joining the Jatiya Sangsad, Sajeda Chowdhury said the government had taken the initiative several times to bring back the opposition parties to the House and the initiatives would be continued. They are elected by the people's votes and it is their responsibility to talk in the House for the people of their constituencies, she said.

Asked about terrorism, corruption, extortion and tender bungling, the Awami League leader said those who are involved in such heinous crimes have no party and they are always used to be workers of the party in power for their narrow personal gains. Sajeda requested all to remain alert about such elements in the society. Abdul Jalil did not go out of his Gulshan residence after his arrival in Dhaka on Tuesday night. However, some reporters from both the print and electronic media thronged his house throughout the day yesterday to talk to him. None was allowed entry into his city residence.

However, some staff of his Mercantile Bank and some leaders of his Naogaon constituency were allowed entry there. The leaders informed the reporters that Abdul Jalil is well. Abdul Jalil returned home from London on Tuesday night. As soon as he arrived at Zia International Airport (ZIA), AL workers staged a demonstration and chanted slogan against him. In the face of massive protest, he managed to leave the airport hurriedly to keep away from the wrath of the party workers. "Jalil's physical condition is better. He doesn't want to talk to the media, a relative of Abdul Jalil told The Independent.