Bangladesh News

In a dramatic development last night, Awami League (AL) joint general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam was reinstated as acting general secretary hours after Abdul Jalil returned to his general secretary post.

Jalil, however, said he was not aware of the changes and would continue to work as party general secretary as per the AL constitution.

“Ashraf is still the acting general secretary of the party and he will continue to serve for several more days,” AL acting President Zillur Rahman told The Daily Star around 7:45pm yesterday.

“I do not know,” Jalil told The Daily Star at 8:55pm about the new developments.

Asked whether he would continue as party general secretary, the AL leader said, “I am still the general secretary as per the party constitution and I will continue to work as the general secretary.”

Zillur Wednesday said it depended on Jalil when he would resume responsibilities of AL general secretary. As per the party constitution, the responsibility went to him immediately after his return to the country, he had said.

AL sources said Zillur called Ashraf over telephone yesterday morning and asked him to keep the charge following direction of party chief Sheikh Hasina.

Ashraf was given the charge at the instruction of the AL president as she was annoyed with Jalil for returning to the party’s general secretary position without running it by her, party sources said.

Jalil resumed his responsibilities of AL general secretary after placing floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi yesterday morning.

Jalil called several senior AL leaders to accompany him to the Bangabandhu Bhaban yesterday morning but hearing about Hasina being annoyed with Jalil, no senior leaders went with him.

A number of party leaders believe that the party constitution allows Jalil to keep his post.

Jalil, who returned home on August 31 after having treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for about six months, announced that he is to resume with the responsibilities of party general secretary after the High Court granted him a 40-day ad interim bail Wednesday.

“I told him [Jalil] not to take the responsibilities of party general secretary now and suggested that he should have rest for a few days on medical grounds. But he [Jalil] did not listen,” an AL leader who had a phone conversation with the AL chief Wednesday night claimed Hasina to have said.

How could Jalil claim AL general secretary post without withdrawing his resignation letter issued after his arrest, reports US-based news agency News World quoting an AL leader repeating Hasina’s words.

Talking to The Daily Star different sources who are close to Hasina and had talked to her during the last two days said Jalil returned to his post without consulting the matter with the AL chief. They claimed that Jalil called Hasina several times after taking charge but she did not receive his phone calls.

Sources said Hasina had advised Jalil not to take the charge of AL general secretary till she is home and to have rest until then. The AL chief also told Jalil that Ashraf should continue with the responsibilities of acting general secretary since he has been doing his job well.

Annoyed Hasina even called Joint General Secretary-1 Obaidul Quader enquiring about Quader’s health and whether he was fit for party’s acting general secretary post. Talking to The Daily Star Quader said that he told Hasina that he is sick.

Jalil, after placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu, demanded the government release Hasina unconditionally and permanently first and then hold the parliamentary elections ahead of the upazila polls.

Jalil filed a “mercy petition” to the caretaker government on July 5 last year seeking release, and stating that he had decided to retire from politics, if necessary. In the petition, he also blasted AL President Sheikh Hasina for her “dictatorial leadership”.

He yesterday said, “I shall continue to work to pave the way for Awami League to win the elections under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina as she is the only one capable of rebuilding a nation prosperously.”