Jalil, who first met Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1969, served in many vital posts in the BCL before joining the AL.

He served as the Naogaon district AL general secretary for consecutive 16 years. Then, he became the international affairs secretary and joint secretary of the AL central committee.

At present he is a presidium member of the party.

Jalil became the chief whip of the third parliament in 1986 and the commerce minister of the AL government during 1996-2001.

He was elected the AL general secretary on December 26, 2002 at the party's national council without any contest. Later, he became the coordinator of the AL-led 14-party coalition during the immediate past BNP-Jamaat alliance government's tenure.

Jalil completed BA Honours and Master degrees in political science from Dhaka University. Then he went to England to study Barrister at Law.

But, in response to the call of Bangabandhu, he returned home early to participate in the independence movement.

Jalil actively participated in the Liberation War in 1971 and led the freedom fighters in the northern region. He also organised freedom fighters especially in the northern region and conducted training for youths under sector-7.