Mohammad Shahjahan Omar

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 and was awarded Bir Uttom. He is a four-term Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Jhalokati-1 constituency as a member of the Bangladesh Awami League.

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. He was admitted into the University of Dhaka but dropped out in 1967. In 1997 he obtained a 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.

Political career

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Omar was elected to the parliament as a candidate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party from Jhalokati-1 in the general elections of 1979, 1991, 1996, and 2001. He served as the state minister of law in the third Khaleda ministry. In 2001, his supporters attacked minority Hindu populations in Jhalakati-1 to intimidate them from voting against him.

On 27 October 2007, the 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. The Bangladesh High Court acquitted him in August 2010. In September 2014, the Bangladesh Supreme Court allowed the 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 party to compete as a candidate for the membership of the Jhalokati-1 constituency at the 2024 Bangladeshi general election. Later, he was expelled from all the BNP posts.

After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League 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.

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