Jalil enlarged on 40-day bail, resumes party responsibility

Ailing Awami League general secretary MA Jalil came to life and resumed his party leadership minutes after he was enlarged on a 40-day bail from the High Court in an ill-gotten wealth case Wednesday, reports UNB. brEmerging from the court, Jalil, flanked by his lawyers, told reporters he could not take the party responsibility on his return from Singapore on August 31 after treatment.brIt is an automation clause in the party constitution. There is no ambiguity about taking over the charge of party leadership, he said, in the changed context now.brJalil said his parole that expired Wednesday had barred him from political activities. No parole now exists and I'm completely cured for doing active politics which I have been doing for long 45 years.brAfter his release on parole on health grounds, Jalil had gone to Singapore on March 3 and had undergone treatment in Mount Elizabeth Hospital for about six months.brWhen asked about his letter to the Chief Adviser, which was read out by his wife before media-men pleading for his release in exchange for quitting politics before going to Singapore, he outright denied having made such pleas. brDon't try to confuse (people) over it, an apparently annoyed Jalil told reporters, retracting all that had been stated in favour of him while in custody during the days of political perils caused by the anti-corruption drive after the January 11, 2007 changeover following a political crisis over electoral issues. brJalil, in a letter to Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, had also come down heavily on his party president and ex-PM Sheikh Hasina for what he had termed her dictatorial leadership.