Shahjahan Omar

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

Shahjahan Omar
শাহজাহান ওমর
Minister of State for Law, Justice and Parlimemtary Affairs of Bangladesh
In office 7 April 2003 – 29 October 2006
Prime Minister	Khaleda Zia
Preceded by	Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan
Member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Jhalokati-1
In office 10 January 2024 – 6 August 2024
Preceded by	Bazlul Haque Haroon
In office 5 March 1991 – 30 March 1996
Preceded by	Jahangir Kabir
Succeeded by	Bazlul Haque Haroon
In office 28 October 2001 – 27 October 2006
Preceded by	Anwar Hossain Manju
Personal details
Born	(1947-12-24) 24 December 1947 (age 77) Rajapur, East Bengal, Pakistan
Political party	Bangladesh Nationalist Party (1979–2023) Bangladesh Awami League (2023–current)
Awards	Bir Uttom[1]
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan (Before 1971)  Bangladesh
Branch/service	Pakistan Army  Bangladesh Army
Years of service	1968 - 1974
Rank	Major
Unit	Judge Advocate General
Commands	Company Commander of Sector – IX Additional JAG of Army Headquarters JAG of 9th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Bangladesh Liberation War

Early life

Omar was born on 24 December 1947 to Lalmon Habib (d. 2006).^[5] He passed S.S.C. from Rajapur High School in 1964. In 1966 he passed H.S.C. from Brojomohun College. He was admitted into the University of Dhaka but dropped out in 1967. In 1997 he obtained Bar At Law degree from Lincoln's Inn.

Military career

He joined the Pakistan Army in 1967. In 1969, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was posted to Kharian Cantonment. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1970. He escaped from Pakistan on 14 August 1971 and joined the Liberation War. He was posted to Sector-9. He was awarded Bir Uttam for his bravery in the war. After the war, he joined the Bangladesh Army. He was promoted to the rank of Major in 1973. He retired from the Army in 1974.^[6]

Political career

Bangladesh Nationalist Party

Omar was elected to the parliament as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party from Jhalokati-1 in general elections of 1979,1991,1996,2001.^[7] He served as the State Minister of Law in the Second Khaleda Cabinet.^[8] In 2001 his supporters attacked minority Hindu populations in Jhalakati-1 to intimidate them from voting against him.^[9]

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.^[10]

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.^[11][12] Later, he was expelled from all the BNP posts.^[13]

After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government his residence and car were vandalized by activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.^[14] He was arrested by Bangladesh Police after he went to file a complaint against the vandalism.^[14] He was then shown arrested a murder case over the death of a protestor against Sheikh Hasina in police action.^[15]

Personal life

Omar is married to Mehjabin Farzana Omar, and they have a son, Adnan Omar.^[2]