By IANS
Dhaka : In a major blow to the opposition in Bangladesh, a top Awami League leader has pleaded he be released from jail by stating that he had to follow party chief Sheikh Hasina's "dictates" and is now ready to quit politics.
Mohammed Jalil, who was picked up a few weeks ago on corruption charges, has been general secretary of the party and was also coordinator and spokesperson of the 14-party opposition alliance that represented a left-of-centre spectrum till political activity was banned in January.
His wife and children released a copy of a letter he is supposed to have written to the government where he has also criticised former prime minister Hasina.
"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".
The businessman-politician said he had worked on her directives because he never wanted any split within the Awami League.
Hasina's reaction to the development was not known because she is under virtual house arrest but her party leaders reacted cautiously.
"We want to hear from a free Jalil. Not one who is in jail," The Daily Star quoted party presidium member Suranjit Sengupta as saying.
General elections were called off in January and a complete ban on political activity followed the imposition of national emergency.
The interim government of Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed has since cracked down on crime and corruption, nabbing over 220,000 people, including several former ministers and lawmakers.