Jalil, (Major) MA (1942-1989) army officer, distinguished freedom fighter and politician. Mohammad Abdul Jalil was born at Wazirpur in Barisal district on 9 February 1942. He passed the matriculation examination from Wazirpur WB Union Institution in 1959, IA examination from Murry Young Cadet Institution, and joined the Pakistan army as trainee officer in 1962. He obtained his graduation and MA in History during his service in the army. MA Jalil was promoted to the post of Captain in 1965, and was elevated to the position of Major in 1970.

In February 1971, Major Jalil came to Barisal on leave from his place of posting in Multan, and joined the war of liberation in March. He was appointed commander of the Nineth Sector. He was, however, removed from the position in the month of November. Major Jalil had extraordinary contribution to the War of Liberation.

Major Jalil had pioneering role in floating the new political party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) in October 1972. At the inception of the party he was the joint convenor, and was elected chairman of the party in the council session held on 26 December 1972. The JSD under his leadership endeavoured to establish 'scientific socialism' in the country and was altogether active in anti-government politics. Major Jalil contested from seven constituencies in the Jatiya Sangsad elections in 1973 with no return. Major Jalil was arrested while launching a programme of the party activists to besiege the official residence of the then Home Minister on 17 March 1974. He was released on 8 November 1975. Major Jalil was again arrested on 25 November by the martial law government for his alleged conspiracy for the overthrow of the government and attempts at usurping the state power. He was sentenced to life long imprisonment (18 July 1976) in a trial by the special military tribunal. He was, however, released on 24 March 1980.

Major Jalil contested in the presidential election in 1981 as a nominee of the three-party alliance of JSD, Workers Party and Krishak-Sramik Samajbadi Dal. He was removed from chairmanship of the JSD in 1984. He then left JSD and floated a new party styled as Jatiya Mukti Andolan through which he launched a programme for Islamic movement.

Major Jalil authored some books on politics. These are Seemahin Samay (1976), Dristibhangi O Jiban Darshan, Surjodoy (1982), Arakshita Swadhinatayi Paradhinata (1989), Bangladesh Nationalist Movement for Unity: A Historical Necessity. He died at Islamabad in Pakistan on 19 November 1989. [Muazzam Hussain Khan]