Shajahan Khan


Shajahan Khan is a Bangladeshi politician, member of Jatiya Sangsad from Madaripur-1 constituency. He served as the minister of shipping of Bangladesh from 2009 to 2019.

Early life

Khan was born on 1 January 1952 to Asmat Ali Khan, a politician and educationist, and Tajan Nesa Begum. He passed the S.S.C examination from United Islamia High School, Madaripur in 1966 and H.S.C from Madaripur Nazimuddin College in 1968. He obtained his bachelor's from Govt. Nazimuddin College.

Career

Khan joined politics in 1964. He was elected as the secretary of Chhatra League in Madaripur subdivision. Later he was elected as the secretary general and vice-president of Govt. Nazimuddin College. He was a Mukti Bahini member. He received military-training in Dehradun, India.
Khan is the current vice-president of Jatiya Sramik League and executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation.
Khan is currently a 7 times elected MP. He was first elected in The National Parliament in 1986, as the MP of Madaripur-2 constituency. Later in 1991, 1996, 2001, 2008, 2014 and 2018 he has been elected as an MP from the same seat as the nominee of Bangladesh Awami League.
On 31 July 2009, Khan was appointed as Minister of Shipping. In November 2013, he was appointed in the Interim government as the Minister of Liberation War Affairs. Following the election of 2014, he left that ministry and took up the responsibility of the Ministry of Shipping and held the office until January 2019.

Controversy

On 23 August 2011, transport workers loyal to Khan snatched newspapers from hawkers and transport vehicles because the newspapers criticized the role Khan played in granting driving licenses. He has been criticised for defending drivers violating traffic laws. As the Minister of Shipping, he defended chief engineer of the Department of Shipping AKM Fakhrul Islam and protected him from departmental action. Islam was arrested on 11 August 2017 by Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission with half a million taka in bribe. He has supported CBA leaders at Bangladesh Bank worrying officers at the bank. He was criticised over the recruitment at Chittagong port by government MP Moin Uddin Khan Badal and opposition party MP Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu.
On 29 July 2018, Khan was criticized for commenting lightheartedly with a smiley face about a road accident which led to the death of at least two students. Following his remark, countrywide protests and road blockades were held by the students demanding a sincere apology. He later apologised for his remarks.

Personal life

Khan has been married to Syeda Rokeya Begum since 1984. She is a daughter of journalist Syed Golam Kibria. Khan has two sons and one daughter. Eldest of them Asib Khan is an Advocate and likely to take over his fathers position after Khan.