Shahjahan Omar
শাহজাহান ওমর
Minister of State for Law, Justice and Parlimemtary Affairs of Bangladesh
In office
7 April 2003 – 29 October 2006
Prime MinisterKhaleda Zia
Preceded byAbdus Sattar Bhuiyan
Member of the Bangladesh Parliament
for Jhalokati-1
Assumed office
10 January 2024
Preceded byBazlul Haque Haroon
In office
5 March 1991 – 30 March 1996
Preceded byJahangir Kabir
Succeeded byBazlul Haque Haroon
In office
28 October 2001 – 27 October 2006
Preceded byAnwar Hossain Manju
Personal details
Born (1947-12-24) 24 December 1947
Rajapur, Bakerganj, East Bengal, Pakistan (now, Barisal, Bangladesh)
Political party
Awards Bir Uttom[1]
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan (Before 1971)
 Bangladesh
Branch/service Pakistan Army
 Bangladesh Army
Years of service1967 - 1983
Rank Major
UnitJudge Advocate General
Commands
Battles/warsBangladesh Liberation War

Shahjahan Omar (born 24 December 1947)[2] is a Bangladeshi politician and a former state minister for law.[3] He is retired major of the Bangladesh Army and was awarded Bir Uttom.[4][5] He is a 4 term Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Jhalokati-1 constituency as a member of Bangladesh Awami League.

Early life

Omar was born on 24 December 1947 to Lalmon Habib (d. 2006).[6] He worked as a barrister.[2] After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he pledged allegiance to the new government led by Bangladesh Army officers.[7]

Political career

Bangladesh Nationalist Party

Omar was elected to the parliament as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party from Jhalokati-1 in 2001.[8] He served as the State Minister of Law in the Second Khaleda Cabinet.[9] In 2001 his supporters attacked minority Hindu populations in Jhalakati-1 to intimidate them from voting against him.[10]

On 27 October 2007, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) sued Omar on corruption charges. On 14 May 2008, he was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka. Bangladesh High Court acquitted him in August 2010. In September 2014, Bangladesh Supreme Court allowed ACC to start the process to appeal the High Court verdict.[11]

Bangladesh Awami League

Omar served as the vice-chairman of BNP. He resigned from the party on 30 November 2023 and, on the same day, earned the nomination from the arch-rival Awami League party to compete as a candidate for the membership of the Jhalokati-1 constituency at the 2024 Bangladeshi general election.[12][13] Later, he was expelled from all the BNP posts.[14]

Personal life

Omar is married to Mehjabin Farzana Omar, and they have a son, Adnan Omar.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Bangladesh Gazette of 15 December, 1973; Ministry of Liberation War Affairs
  2. 1 2 "Profile Mr. M. Shahjahan Omar". tritiyomatra.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Arrest warrant against Shahjahan Omar, family". The Daily Star. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Contribution of Zia recalled". The Daily Star. 20 January 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "BNP's ex-army officers meet". Banglanews24.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Barrister Shahjahan Omar's mother dies". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  7. ↑ "The conspiracy behind the assassination of Bangabandhu". The Daily Star. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "ACC taskforce probes Omar's assets in Barisal". The Daily Star. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  9. ↑ "Major parties in crisis to field candidates in Barisal region". The Daily Star. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "2001 still haunts Hindus in Barisal". The Daily Star. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "SC allows ACC to challenge Shahjahan Omar's acquittal". The Daily Star. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  12. ↑ Report, Star Digital (2023-11-30). "BNP leader Shajahan to contest polls with AL ticket". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  13. ↑ "BNP leader Shahjahan Omar to contest polls as Awami League candidate". Dhaka Tribune. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "BNP expels Shahjahan over AL nomination". The Daily Star. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
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