In a letter to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, he also came down heavily on AL President Sheikh Hasina for what he said was her dictatorial leadership.

His wife Rehana Jalil distributed copies of the four-paged petition among the journalists at his Gulshan residence yesterday.

Jalil said the failure to free the AL from its current stifling leadership would prove extremely damaging to the party as well as the country.

Referring to Hasina's remarks on the caretaker administration, he said she has done great harm to the country, party and herself too.

The authorities have yet to bring any charge against Jalil who has been undergoing treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University since June 4. He was arrested at his Mercantile Bank office on May 28 and since then been detained under the special powers act.

"For my grave health condition and looking at the faces of my family and the dear little sons, I have decided to retire from politics if necessary. I humbly request you (the government) to release me and not to extend my detention on humanitarian grounds," wrote Jalil, aged 66.

Each page of the computer-composed letter signed by Jalil on July 2 was marked with the word "confidential" at the top and bottom.

Queried how she had the letter in hand, Rehana kept mum. She said the last time she met her husband was 15 days ago and expects to see him again today.

Meanwhile, political leaders and analysts questioned the authenticity and timing of the petition and said it is not yet clear to them if the AL general secretary has taken the decision voluntarily or was forced to do so following an understanding.

"We want to hear from a free Abdul Jalil, not a detained one why he has decided to retire from politics," AL Presidium Member Suranjit Sengupta told The Daily Star.

Political observers have termed the petition unprecedented saying that no seasoned politician has begged for mercy in the recent political history. It came at a time when both Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia are under tremendous pressure to leave politics and allow radical changes in their parties.

Former adviser to the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan last night told The Daily Star that there might be a question in public mind whether Jalil has signed the petition willingly or under duress.

Pro-reform BNP leaders have already announced a set of proposals including the one aiming to dislodge Khaleda Zia from the post of chairperson while three AL presidium members have come up with their reform proposals apparently seeking to curtail the absolute powers of the AL president.

Since HM Ershad announced to quit as the Jatiya Party chairman on June 30, it has been widely discussed that some more dramatic developments might unfold in the weeks to come.

ABOUT AL AND HASINA
Known for his unswerving loyalty to Hasina, Jalil said the AL is a democratic political organisation and its constitution provides for democratic practices within the party.

"The party had been functioning democratically but for us it has lost its democratic character and become a party centring an autocratic leadership," he said adding that the democratic characteristics of the AL have been ruined because of sycophantic devotion to the party chief having total authority at her command.

The way the AL president runs the party gives no one any chance to go against her decision, said the former commerce minister adding that she (Hasina) was not even interested to hear objection from anyone and it all has proved disastrous for the party.

ABOUT SUPPORT TO THE CG
"Following the developments of January 11, the caretaker government backed by our favourite armed forces had been given full support. We also attended the oath taking ceremony," said Jalil in the petition.

He said they had decided to help the government carry out necessary reforms. "But from out of nowhere our leader [Sheikh Hasina] called for an election instead of giving the government enough time. She took the decision unilaterally, disregarding the majority view," said the AL general secretary.

The AL central working committee at a meeting on March 3 was unanimous in its opposition to the demand for an election within June and decided that the government would be given more time.

"But she defied the committee's decision and continued making contradictory statements. Then, before leaving the country she announced at the airport that in future all activities of the present government would be legitimised. But again, when she had barely reached abroad she began making rather erratic speeches, causing harm both to the part and the country," Jalil continued.

That's how she has become a reason for damage to the country, party and even herself. Because of her, the country has been through growing unrest, said the detained AL leader adding that he does not support her activities and no one could do so either.

For the welfare of the nation as well as itself, the AL must promote democratic practices, noted Jalil, chairman of the Mercantile Bank.

The AL needs immediate changes. If it cannot be freed from the authoritarian leadership, it will mean dire consequences for the party and the country. In the past, terrible blunders were made and serious harm done to the party for the way it had been run, said the detained AL leader.

Opportunist and selfish people have been given priority over the dedicated workers and leaders.

ABOUT HIMSELF
"I was elected the general secretary of Awami League at a council conference. As per the party constitution, the post carries a lot of responsibilities. But I was not allowed to do my job properly. I had to follow the party chief's dictates and pander to her whims," said Jalil.

He added that he tried to make her (Hasina) understand but to no avail. He had worked on her directives even though it all went against the grain because he never wanted any split within the AL.

"Question may arise why I did not resign. I thought dispute and rift that might follow [resignation] would harm the party. Besides, the post is a highly respectable one. Thousands of leaders, workers and admirers revere the general secretary of a party like Awami League. It is my failure that I couldn't resist the temptation to continue in the post and I am sad and ashamed of this," he said.

FUTURE ROLE
Jalil said the country would have to suffer an extensive loss if it couldn't be liberated from the present political situation. It's everybody's patriotic duty to support the present caretaker government. And that is why he always pledged all-out support for the government in all his previous statements.

"The next parliament must ratify all activities of the present government for the sake of sustainable development," said the former commerce minister adding that if he's given a chance, he would do whatever he can to that end.

He said he supports the caretaker government's anti-graft drive and initiatives to have a parliament free of black money and muscle power. He would accept with alacrity the opportunity to help the government attain that goal and would try his best to marshal support for that within his party.

"As a freedom fighter, as a man having sanity and democratic values I will be dedicated until the last day of my life to building a prosperous nation," Jalil added.

He also pledged that he is ready to do whatever he can to leave a democratic, secular, and healthy society for the future generations which was precisely the aim of the Liberation War.

"So again, I humbly request you (the president and the chief adviser) to give me a chance to live in a free environment, taking into consideration the circumstances I'm in," he wrote.

WIFE'S APPEAL
Rehana Jalil yesterday said her husband's life is at stake due to critical condition of his heart and kidney. "So I earnestly request the president and the chief adviser to give him a chance to stay alive," she said.

She said Jalil fought for the independence, democracy and for economic liberty of the countrymen. "He did politics with honesty and has strived for a liberal democratic party throughout his life," she added.

On numerous occasions at the party forum he stressed the need for a democratic and modern AL much before the present efforts towards reforms, said Rehana adding that leaders and workers of the party would admit it.

"So considering all these, I call on [the government] to release and allow him to stay alive as a conscious citizen and freedom fighter.

"I believe he will be able to make a significant contribution to the ongoing reform process. If freed he will work in favour of a free and fair election and against corruption and political criminalisation," she observed.

Before joining the AL, Jalil was involved in student politics. He returned home from England where he was studying bar at law to participate in the movement for the independence. He fought in the Liberation War of 1971.

He was the chief whip of the third parliament in 1986 and commerce minister of the Sheikh Hasina-led government during 1996-2001. He was elected general secretary of the party in 2002.