A. S. M. Shahjahan

ASM Shahjahan (9 March 1941 – 5 February 2019)[2][3] was a visionary Bangladeshi government servant, educator and thought leader. He served as Adviser to non party Caretaker government of Bangladesh[4] (2001), led by President Shahabuddin Ahmed, he also served as the 15th Inspector General of Police of Bangladesh Police.[4] (8 July 1992 – 22 April 1996), and as the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports (1996-1999).  Shahjahan was renowned for his honesty and his dedication to his country, and is regarded as a symbol of honesty in policing in Bangladesh. Upon his retirement from government service, Shahjahan served as the vice chancellor of Asia Pacific University and as a senior advisor to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Police reform.  He also served as a vocal leader of Sujan Bangladesh and as a Former President of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) advocating for better governance and environmental protections.

ASM Shahjahan
এ. এস. এম. শাহজাহান
Adviser of Ministry of Education, Science and ICT in Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
In office
15 July 2001 – 10 October 2001
PresidentShahabuddin Ahmed
Prime MinisterLatifur Rahman
Secretary[1] of Ministry of Youth and Sports
PresidentShahabuddin Ahmed
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Inspector General of Bangladesh Police
In office
8 July 1992 – 22 April 1996
PresidentAbdur Rahman Biswas
Prime MinisterKhaleda Zia
Preceded byM. Enamul Haque
Succeeded byM. Azizul Haque
Personal details
Born(1941-03-09)March 9, 1941
Noakhali, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died5 February 2019(2019-02-05) (aged 77)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi

Career

After graduating from Dhaka University with BCom(hons) and MCom in 1962, Shahjahan began his career as a faculty member at Chaumohani College, Rajshahi Government College and subsequently University of Rajshahi in 1963 where he served in the Department of Commerce till December 1965. He was a charismatic young lecturer with a strong character and work ethic and was loved and admired by students and faculty alike.

Shahjahan took the civil service exam and joined the elite Civil Service cadre. A senior Bangladeshi Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) officer on the candidate selection board noticed Shahjahan's potential and convinced him to add Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) to his placement preference list. He joined the police service in 1966, only 6 officers were selected that year, 3 were from Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) and 3 from Pakistan (then West Pakistan).

Shahjahan played key roles in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971. ASM Shahjahan was in-charge of security for the meeting where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his 7 March speech that sparked the revolution. Shahjahan made arrangements to ensure the relaying of the speech through police wireless. He was Additional Superintendent of Police, Dhaka, and based out of Rajarbagh Police Line, the epicenter of the first attack on the nation the night of 25 March 1979.

A.S.M. Shahjahan was the founding Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in 1976, and in 1991 he returned to DMP as the Commissioner. He served Bangladesh Police at sub-divisional, district, divisional and national levels through various positions in different departments, such as, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Branch, Armed Police Battalion etc. On July 8, 1992, ASM Shahjahan became the 15th Inspector General of Police (IGP). Over the next four years, he worked diligently to gradually shift the focus of the national police force towards service to the people. He believed that the colonial laws, policing principles and practices designed to control a population is ideologically and practically divergent from community focused, service oriented policing and is a cornerstone of any democracy. As a visionary and progressive leader without political party affiliation, with a reputation for honesty and delivering results he was widely respected by leaders of all major political parties.

Highlights from ASM Shahjahan’s tenure as IGP
  • To promote transparency and accountability to the public, he introduced “Open House Day” in every police station, a monthly event for people to come to their police station and openly critique the activities of their local police.
  • He was the first IGP to deploy female police officers outside the metropolitan areas, at the district level.
  • He led the expansion of Detective Branch, as specialized modern investigative unit, beyond the metropolitan areas and into the district level.
  • To preserve the history and achievement of law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh ASM Shahjahan established a Police Museum. He also compiled the history of Bangladesh Police's contribution to the liberation war for the museum.
  • A visionary thought leader with a global view, Shahjahan proposed the creation of SAARCPOL in the line of INTERPOL for SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries.
  • Bangladesh Police earned the flag for IGP's car for the 1st time, during his tenure.
  • He was a member of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a committee of eminent citizens of the country, who provide expert guidance on national issues.

Secretary, Government of Bangladesh

After leaving the police department, Shahjahan became Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Govt. of Bangladesh where he served until 1999. As secretary he represented Bangladesh as chief of the mission at 1996 Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta, also during his tenure, Bangladesh qualified to play in the ICC World Cup for the 1st time. He retired from the Government of Bangladesh in 1999, and became the Vice-Chancellor of University of Asia Pacific

Adviser, Non-Party Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

Following the provision for caretaker government through 13th Amendment of the Constitution, the second caretaker government was formed on 15 July 2001 with former Chief Justice, Justice Latifur Rahman, as the Chief Adviser.

A.S.M. Shahjahan was sworn-in as Adviser, a position equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister of the non-party Care-taker government on July 15, 2001 led by the Honorable President of Bangladesh Shahabuddin Ahmed. He was given the charge for - Ministry of Education, Primary and Mass Education Division, Ministry of Science and Technology & Ministry of Youth and Sports. Also worked as:- Member Advisory Council on Law and Order, Member Advisory Council on Administration for the Govt. of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.  

He continued his work as senior adviser for Police Reform Program ofUnited Nations Development Programme.,[5] a program designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Bangladesh Police in joint partnership with UNDP, Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission.[6]

. He also worked as senior adviser for Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Civic Memberships

Amongst his other involvements, ASM Shahjahan provided leadership and guidance to environmental activists involved with Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) as President and was a Member of Transparency International Bangladesh. member of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a committee formed with selected eminent citizens of the country, to provide expert guidance to national issues.

Personal life

ASM Shahjahan was the oldest son of Meherunnessa and Abdul Awal, although he was born into an educated family with means, the family quickly fell into hard times following the untimely death of Abdul Awal at the age of 25, when Shahjahan was only 3 years old and his younger brother AJM Omar Faruq was less than a year old. Shortly thereafter, Shahjahan's grandfather and patriarch of the family passed away putting additional strain on the family's finances. Through sheer determination, courage and will power, Meherunessa, who was disallowed from pursuing education beyond her primary years, raised her 2 sons who both went on to become highly successful individuals in their own rights.

In 1967 he married Nilufer Banu, 2nd daughter of the renowned Principal of Choumahoni College, his former teacher and mentor, Principal Tofazzal Husain. A lady  of rare patience, Nilufer understood and supported Shahjahan throughout his illustrious career, while raising 3 children Uzma, Soyem and Shafquat and pursuing her own career. Nilufer is a retired professor of Economics and an active philanthropist and leader of various civic organizations. The couple have 4 grandchildren, Rezaan, Rakhma, Kaia and Lila.

Writings

Shahjahan regularly wrote columns in Daily newspapers in both Bangla, and English languages.

Other activities

  • President of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa).[7][8]
  • Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Asia Pacific[9]
  • Members of Transparency International Bangladesh.[10]
  • Chairman of Development Organization of the Rural Poor[11]
  • Member of governing body, Uttara Adhunik Medical College.[12]
  • He was the convocation speaker of the 11th Convocation of the American International University – Bangladesh (AIUB) held in 30 January 2011.[13]
  • He was guest of honour at findings Dissemination Session of the Public Attitude Follow-up Survey organised by the Police Reform Program on 21 August 2009.[14]
  • He addressed the closing ceremony of a three-day training on Effective Media Relations organised by the PRP at BRAC Inn Centre on 20 July 2008.[15]
  • He also addressed the inaugural function of a two-day orientation for the police officers on Gender Sensitivity: Key To Prevent Violence Against Women in Dhaka on 12 September 2007.[16]
  • He was the keynote speaker at a seminar on Necessity of reform of police act for national development, organised by Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) at Bangladesh Economic Association office in Dhaka on 8 March 2008.[17]
  • He was the Chief Adviser of Organization for Social Development of Unemployed Youth, a human welfare, employment oriented and non-profitable NGO.[18]
  • He was chief guest at the seminar on National Youth Policy: a way to Employment held on 5 October 2003 at BIAM organised by Youth Employment Summit.[19]
gollark: War is kind of bad?
gollark: … yes?
gollark: Perhaps it would be better to just let me position myself on the axes rather than do it slightly indirectedly.
gollark: I'm on my phone so I had to take two screenshots.
gollark: Look, if you didn't notice before finishing, that's your fault.

References
  1. "Programme of Meetings And Agenda". United Nations. 11 August 1998. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  2. "Ex-IGP ASM Shahjahan dies". The Daily Star. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  3. "Ex-caretaker govt adviser ASM Shahjahan passes away". Daily Sun. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  4. "Metropolitan Police". Bangladesh Police. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  5. "Gender Guidelines for Police stations launched". Police Reform Programme. 20 November 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  6. "Women sensitive policing needed for ensuring women's rights". Police Reform Programme. 18 April 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  7. "Activities of BAPA". Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  8. "Greens urge all to save environment". The Daily Star. Dhaka. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  9. "UAP Students Awarded IEB Membership". Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  10. "Members of TIB". 7 September 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  11. "DORP Advisory Committee". Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  12. "Governing Body of UAMC". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  13. "11th Convocation of AIUB". 31 January 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  14. "Public Attitude Follow-up Survey: police are friendly and more efficient in service delivery". Police Reform Programme. 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  15. "Media Relations Training for Police Officers under Police Reform Programme held". Police Reform Programme. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  16. "Police Needs To Be More Gender-Sensitive in Police Stations: Former IGP A.S.M Shahjahan". Police Reform Programme. 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  17. "Promulgate police ordn to remove cop-people gap". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Dhaka. 3 August 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  18. "IEC Programme". Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  19. "Seminar Held on National Youth Policy" (Press release). 6 October 2003. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
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