Jalil complains of torture

Ruling party’s front ranking member Abdul Jalil last night in parliament raised a serious allegation of inhuman torture on him by an intelligence personnel after the January 11 changeover.

Jalil, also general secretary of Awami League, demanded a parliamentary committee to probe ‘torture on him’ by the personnel of an intelligence agency.

Taking part in the debate on the thanks giving motion for the President’s inaugural speech in parliament the ruling party stalwart suggested the operation of intelligence agency should be limited within the armed forces so that ‘general people, businessmen, politicians are not subjected to ‘intolerable torture’.

Visibly emotional Jalil narrated the ordeals he underwent for long 18 months in custody. “It’s a matter of joke for the intelligence men to humiliate the politicians,” he said.

He said he would write to the Prime Minister who is in charge of the Defence Ministry formally raising the matter and seeking permanent measure for preventing torture by the agency men.

The AL general secretary said after arrest from his office in 2007 he was blindfolded, drove to unknown destination and subjected to inhuman torture by the intelligence without having any allegation against him.

He said, “The agency did not show minimum respect to me as a citizen of the country, as a former minister, as a former MP and overall as a freedom fighter.”

Jalil said those who are responsible for abuse and maltreatment should be punished so that the innocent people are not subjected to torture in future.

He claimed that his reported bad remarks about his party president Sheikh Hasina were fabricated.

Jalil also demanded immediate dismissal of the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission for his partisan role in dealing with corruption. ACC had sought details of my property but did not ask for the wealth statement of Syed Iskander, brother of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Source: The New Nation