Jalil should be excused as he is sick: Suranjit

Veteran Awami League (AL) leader Suranjit Sengupta yesterday said the much-talked-about Abdul Jalil issue should not be continued further as the latter has sought apology for his statements.
“As he [Jalil] has said that he is sick and has admitted his faults, he should be excused,” said Suranjit, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs, while addressing a press briefing at the media centre of Sangsad Bhaban.
On Tuesday in London, Jalil said he still suffers from the trauma caused by torture by the military intelligence agency Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) during detention and blamed the mental state for the testy remarks he made while giving interview with London-based Bangla TV.
In an interview with the TV recently, the former AL general secretary said the party's landslide victory in the December 29 parliamentary election came through an “understanding”.
His remark triggered criticism in and outside the ruling party, but drew kudos from the opposition BNP.
In her first reaction to Jalil's remarks on the election, Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina has termed it “irrelevant”, and said he should have resigned as a lawmaker before raising any question about the polls in which he also was elected.
Referring to Jalil's statements that he is sorry for his remarks about the party and the election, Suranjit said according to the law, if anyone seeks pardon after committing crime, law too excuses the person.
As Jalil has become repented for his remarks, the matter should be ended here, opined Suranjit who has also been made AL's advisory council member along with Jalil, among others.
Suranjit said as an aged person Jalil could not understand what he told, adding that Jalil's statements on the election have shaken the nation as the election was held in a freest and fairest manner.
The AL leader hoped that the party president would forgive Jalil considering his contribution to and sacrifices for the party for decades.
AL presidium member Obaidul Quader, however, said Abdul Jalil could be excused only if he seeks pardon in black and white.
But before that he must be show-caused as he has made both the party and government embarrassed and created a way for the opposition to criticise the government, party and election, the AL policymaker told The Daily Star.
“If he [Jalil] clarifies his position and says sorry in black and white, the party would decide his fate,” said Quader, adding that it is no more acceptable that a party lawmaker who is also the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on commerce ministry and the member of AL advisory council would make one after another statements embarrassing the party, its chief and the government.
Quader, who was Jalil's deputy during the 2002 and 2009 AL central committee, observed that the former general secretary violated grossly the party constitution by questioning the credibility of the freest and fairest election and speaking against the party president.