Shahjahan Omar (born 24 December 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician and a former state minister for law. He is a retired major of the

Bangladesh Army The Bangladesh Army () is the land warfare branch, and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to defend the land of Bangladesh from any external attack. Control of personnel and operations is ad ...

and was awarded

Bir Uttom Bir Uttom () is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh after the Bir Sreshtho and the highest gallantry award for living individual. Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, 69 people have been awarded the Bir Utto ...

. He is a 4 term

Jatiya Sangsad The Jatiya Sangsad (), often simply referred to as Sangsad and also known as is the unicameral Legislature, legislative body of Bangladesh. The current parliament of Bangladesh contains 350 seats, including 50 seats reserved exclusively for w ...

member representing the Jhalokati-1 constituency as a member of

Bangladesh Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...

Early life

Omar was born on 24 December 1947 to Lalmon Habib (d. 2006). He passed S.S.C. from Rajapur High School in 1964. In 1966 he passed H.S.C. from

Brojomohun College Govt. Brojomohun College, Barishal, commonly known as BM College, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Bangladesh. It is located in the city of Barishal in south-western Bangladesh. History On June 14, 1889, Ashwini Kumar Dut ...

. He was admitted into the

University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country. The University of Dhaka w ...

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 Kharian Cantonment (Urdu: کھاریاں چھاؤنی۔), ( Punjabi: ) or Kharian Cantt is one of the largest cantonments (army bases) in Pakistan. It is located near Kharian city, in the Gujrat district of Punjab province. This 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 Bir Uttom () is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh after the Bir Sreshtho and the highest gallantry award for living individual. Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, 69 people have been awarded the Bir Utto ...

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.

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. He served as the State Minister of Law in the

Second Khaleda Cabinet The Second Khaleda ministry was a ministry that had power over the Government of Bangladesh during the 8th legislative session of the Jatiya Sangsad The Jatiya Sangsad (), often simply referred to as Sangsad and also known as is the uni ...

. In 2001 his supporters attacked minority Hindu populations in Jhalakati-1 to intimidate them from voting against him. 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 The High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh (), popularly known as High Court, is one of the two divisions of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the other division being the Appellate Division. It consists of the Chief Justice of Bangla ...

acquitted him in August 2010. In September 2014,

Bangladesh Supreme Court Supreme Court of Bangladesh () is the highest court of law in the country. It is composed of the High Court Division and the Appellate Division, and was established by Part VI, Chapter I (Article 94) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, adopte ...

allowed ACC to start the process to appeal the High Court verdict.

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 The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...

party to compete as a candidate for the membership of the Jhalokati-1 constituency at the

2024 Bangladeshi general election General elections were held in Bangladesh on 7 January 2024 in accordance with the Constitution of Bangladesh, constitutional requirement, stating that elections must take place within the 90-day period before the expiration of the current term ...

. Later, he was expelled from all the BNP posts. After the fall of the

Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...

led

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

Personal life

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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omar, Shahjahan Living people 1947 births People from Jhalokati district Politicians from Barisal Division Bangladesh Army officers Recipients of the Bir Uttom 5th Jatiya Sangsad members 6th Jatiya Sangsad members 8th Jatiya Sangsad members State ministers of law, justice and parliamentary affairs Mukti Bahini personnel Place of birth missing (living people) 12th Jatiya Sangsad members Awami League politicians Former Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians