Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) Presidium member Suranjit Sengupta yesterday said they want to hear from a “freed” Jalil about his decision to retire from politics.

“We do not want to hear any statement of Abdul Jalil in detention. We want his explanation–why, on what grounds and how he decided to quit politics,” Suranjit said in his reaction to the AL general secretary’s surprise decision.

Suranjit said in politics there is no room for those with escaping tendency and Jalil will have to make public the reasons behind his decision to retire from politics.

The detained AL leader suddenly petitioned the government yesterday for releasing him, saying he has decided to retire from politics on personal grounds.

When contacted, senior AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed however refrained from commenting on the matter.

AL Presidium member Matia Chowdhury also said it will not be right to comment on this matter before knowing everything clearly. “This is beyond my understanding on what grounds and for what reasons he [Jalil] gave such statement in detention,” she said.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu said he personally respects Jalil’s “personal” decision. He demanded that the caretaker government frees Jalil as there are no specific charges against him.

Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad) Presidium member Ziauddin Bablu also said this is Jalil’s personal decision.