Pardon me if I am being cynical. But it was quite shocking when the general secretary of the oldest political party in this country went down on his knees to beg the government for mercy. He promised to quit politics, squealed against his boss and then wanted to be released from jail on the ground of poor health condition. His second wife read out his appeal first hand to the country.

It is amazing how swiftly the scene has changed from sublime to ridicule. The all-powerful politician who had once given a deadline to take down the government, and had threatened to lay siege on the President's office until it ran out of oxygen, one who promised not to relent until rights and freedom of the people were safe in his hands, has turned into a pipsqueak. He has basically thrown himself at the feet of his captors, and agreed to rub his nose on the ground if they were to let go of him.

It is good to know that he worries about his life, which is the only sign to tell us he is a mortal like rest of us. Everything else about him speaks of a ghoul who could do anything to satisfy his greed.

How many people have died as a result of his misguided politics? He needs to answer that question first before he expects us to listen to his appeal. It works like a hand in the jar, which can go in but can't come out. The government has put him behind bars, but he can be released only after the people are convinced.

Last week we got the wind of a rumor that the government might consider sending him and one other politician abroad for treatment. If the government is going to do that one would like to ask how does he qualify for this preferential treatment? If he is innocent then he should be set free and allowed to go for treatment at his own expense. It will cost him only a fraction of what he has filched.

If he is guilty, then why spend taxpayer money to provide quality healthcare to an enemy of the people? There is of course one reason, which may justify special care for him. If the government can tell us that it is important to keep this prisoner in good health in the interest of the country.

After that I don't care what happens to citizen Jalil. The leader Jalil was finished the day he ranted in police remand and we came to know accounts of his atrocious misdeeds. If anything, he only signed his death warrant in the apology last week.

He might still continue as a breathing disgrace to his family and constituency, reminding them of his shameful past, that he was a shady dealer in the guise of a worthy leader, a mole in the flower, a sheep in tiger's skin. Shame, shame, shame! Three scorns for a despicable man.

On second thought, I might want to keep in touch with him. I might use him to launch his namesake condition and make him its poster boy. He would be role model for the snitches and pipsqueaks, the brand name for treachery and trickery, shoddy lives, double standards, and the whole shebang of other evils.

Who doesn't know that life is hard in jail? And perhaps it is even harder when one is old and sick, when the heart is filled with fear that one might never get out and die amongst family and friends. That fear is common amongst all prisoners, more so in old age, but here a politician stands out. An ordinary prisoner serves time for his crime. But time serves the politician in prison, because it adds to his credentials.

Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison, said on the Larry King show that he and his comrades believed that the death sentence was to be passed on some of them in the Rivonia trial. They decided to become role models and walk to their deaths under a cloud of glory. Larry King asked what had kept Mandela going for all those years in jail, and he said that it was the enlightened company of his friends. They talked most of the time and did lots of thinking.

It's not the same for Jalil who is either amongst his equals or those he has surpassed in crime. They don't have enough to talk about. The political prisoners like him are equally tainted and equally worried. The ordinary criminals must be jealous and angry. If that takes away the talking part, Jalil is only left with thinking. It appears that he does a great deal of it. He thinks about his health and family, the memories of good life flashing in front of him.

But I would like to suggest him to think about this. Nelson Mandela went to jail in1964 and it was not until 24 years later that his wife Winnie would be allowed to make conjugal visits and sleep in the prison with him. But she refused to do so, a decision which was supported by Nelson. Why? His colleagues in the prison weren't fortunate to enjoy the same privilege.

Great leaders go to jail, and they know their ideals will set them free. But Jalil has nothing to save him because the jail has gone inside him.

Mohammad Badrul Ahsan is a banker.