Admittedly, all journalists are not committed to sheer objectivity. However, the leader's observation about the journalists is a damned lie, because the readers of today are smart and intelligent enough to put things in their true perspectives and read between the lines. That the new reformist was again trying -- in the conventional way that our leaders are used to -- to dupe the audience, has been substantiated by what AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil has done.

Arguably, most of our leaders have faults. The Jalil "capitulation" has, however, adorned them with the "frailty" epithet as well. There is no defense for Jalil, because if he did not have a guilty mind, he would not have done so even under duress, if there was any. Yes, who wants to languish in jail and that, too, after leading a heavenly life for many a year?

Yes, we have heard of many legendary leaders not bowing down to any pressure, and remaining dedicated to their commitments despite odds and threats of all sorts. Nelson Mandela passed 29 years of his life in prison. Bangabandhu had to sleep for months beside the grave dug out for him in the Pakistani jail. Four national leaders of Bangladesh had to sacrifice their lives in jail because they remained steadfast in their principles.

The world has seen many more leaders of the kind stated above. But, all of them were leaders of yesteryears. Why should, however, leaders like Abdul Jalil be like the leaders of the past? After all, commitment, dedication, or such things are just alien to modern-day leaders. It has again been proved that they are in politics only for self-aggrandizement by any means, fair or foul. Thus, suffering hardship, let alone sacrificing, is just impossible for them.

No, my intention is not to condemn Abdul Jalil for his mercy petition from the jail. I, however, find it essential to register strong reservations about his remark that Sheikh Hasina was responsible for the current state of affairs in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina is hardly beyond mistakes or criticisms. Allegations of many sorts have been leveled against her. Legal action against her is being intensified and senior leaders of AL are out to oust her from the party.

However, the recent remarks by Jalil regarding Hasina must have been a pleasant surprise for all her detractors. Most importantly, this promises to become a weapon for BNP-Jamaat and their die-hard fans. Yes, Sheikh Hasina was more or less despotic. But, to my mind, it was not her "authoritarian" leadership but her "overdependence" on the forces of money and muscle that has brought such an agonizing day for her today.

Reportedly, Sheikh Hasina made an extra effort to make Jalil the party General Secretary, bypassing more deserving party leaders. However, the Jalil "capitulation" also testifies to the glaring fact that rewarding undeserving ones is always counterproductive. Yes, Jalil's remark regarding Hasina truly vindicates, or rather, better serves the vested interests of the BNP-Jamaat clique, which turned the country into a veritable paradise for lootocracy and anarchy.

The people, however, know pretty well that it was the misgovernance as well as excesses of the that regime that brought the country to such a pass that the armed forces had to step in and help set up an interim civil administration. Truly, the whole of the country watched with great interest the "dialogue" drama involving BNP's Abdul Mannan Bhuyian and AL's Abdul Jalil.

However, the people will never forget the horrific scenes of bloody confrontations on the streets of Dhaka, following the failure of the dialogue between the two leaders. One "hero" of that drama is now playing the flute of reform. And, the other has resorted to the "crying" technique. Most probably, they were not allowed by the two ladies and party leaders to reach a consensus in the dialogue.

However, the claim of making "progress" in the dialogue, especially by Abdul Jalil, was a real joke, which turned really sour in no time. Anyway, the bottom line is that the Jalil "capitulation" has pushed the last nail into the coffin of Bangladesh's modern-day leaders' credentials and credibility.

The few who still had confidence left in the modern-day leaders must now have been disabused of their mistaken belief. I believe "capitulation" of a veteran leader like Abdul Jalil amply proves that the nature of our modern-day leaders has reached the nadir of degeneration, from which no come-back of that old, rotten block will be welcomed by the people, who are so very tired of them.

The writer is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Chittagong.