Shajahan Siraj

Shajahan Siraj (1 March 1943 – 14 July 2020)[1] was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the vice chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). As a student, he was involved with the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was one of the founders of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. He was a member of Jatiya Sangsad representing the Tangail-4 constituency.

Shajahan Siraj
Member of Parliament
for Tangail-4
In office
1 October 2001 – 28 October 2006
Succeeded byAbdul Latif Siddiqui
In office
1988–1996
Preceded byLaila Siddiqui
In office
1979–1986
Preceded byAbdul Latif Siddiqui
Minister of Environment and Forest
In office
10 October 2001 – 6 May 2004
Minister of Textiles
In office
6 May 2004 – 29 October 2006
Personal details
Born(1943-03-01)1 March 1943
Tangail, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died14 July 2020(2020-07-14) (aged 77)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Political partyBangladesh Nationalist Party
Other political
affiliations		Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal
SpouseRabeya Siraj
OccupationPolitician

Early life

Siraj attended Government Saadat College, where he was twice elected vice president of the student council. He served as the general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student organization of the Awami League, from 1970 to 1972.[1] He was a leader of the Mukti Bahini and one of the leaders of Bangladesh liberation. Siraj was one of the designers of the Bangladesh flag. Siraj read the manifesto of Bangladesh independence on March 3, 1971, in front of millions of people in the presence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He served as the acting General Secretary and also the president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD).[2]

Career

Siraj won election to parliament five times from Tangail-4 constituency. He served as a minister, for the Government of Bangladesh, during 1991 and 2001 BNP's tenure.[3] During his tenure as the environment minister,[4] the use and production of plastic shopping bags (polythene bags) were banned in Bangladesh, 3-stroke scooters were withdrawn from the road, and social tree plantation turned into a movement.

In 2007, arrest warrants were issued for Siraj in connection with thirteen charges of tax evasion.[5] He was sentenced to thirteen years in jail, and his wife three.[3] That conviction was overturned in 2010.[6]

Personal life

Siraj was married to Rabeya Siraj, a women's movement leader, president of the BNP's Dhaka city women's front, and a member of the BNP national executive committee.[5] Together they have a daughter, Sarwat Siraj, and, Rajiv Siraj, a son. Sarwat is a practising advocate at the Bangladesh Supreme Court. Rajiv is a member of board of directors of One Group.

Death

Siraj died on 14 July 2020 at a hospital in Dhaka after suffering from cancer.[6]

References
  1. "Former minister and freedom fighter Shahjahan Siraj no more". The Daily Star. 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  2. "Declaration of Independence". Banglapedia. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  3. "Ex-BNP minister Shajahan gets 13 yrs for graft". bdnews24.com. 22 April 2008.
  4. "Rickshaw riots in Bangladesh". BBC News. 31 January 2002.
  5. "11 tax-dodging cases filed against Shajahan Siraj, family". The Daily Star. 17 July 2007.
  6. Rahman, Tanjir; Numan, Abdullah Al (14 July 2020). "Veteran politician Shahjahan Siraj passes away". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2021-01-31.

Further reading
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