Former MP Shahjahan Omar’s car attacked in Rajapur

In a tense incident early Thursday morning, the car of former Member of Parliament (MP) Muhammad Shahjahan Omar was attacked and vandalized in the North Pingri Baribari area of Rajapur Upazila. 

Omar, who left BNP to contest the Jhalkathi-1 (Rajapur-Kathalia) seat as an Awami League candidate, accused BNP activists and their allies of carrying out the attack.

Shahjahan Omar, who was in the car at the time, managed to escape and took shelter at the Rajapur Police Station. 

However, soon after, he was arrested by the police in connection with a separate case and sent to jail.

Speaking to reporters before his arrest, Omar explained, “Around 8:30 this morning, while traveling from my home in Barisal to Rajapur, my car was attacked by BNP workers near North Pingri Baribari. 

This came just a day after BNP activists vandalized my house, Mahzabine, in the Godown Ghat area of Rajapur yesterday evening.”

In response to Omar’s arrest, BNP supporters in Jhalkathi organized a protest march. On Wednesday evening, the Rajapur BNP had also held a procession, during which Omar’s house was attacked and damaged.

An eyewitness, Rafiqul Islam Dulal, described what happened the night before. He said a group of 8 to 10 people threw bricks at Omar‍‍`s house, hitting windows and causing some damage. “Two windows in the front and one on the side were broken,” Dulal said. 

However, the attackers were not identified.

The Officer-in-Charge of Rajapur Police Station, Md. Ismail Hossain, confirmed that Omar‍‍`s car was severely damaged, and Omar himself suffered minor injuries from the broken glass. 

After seeking refuge at the police station, Omar was arrested in connection with a case filed over the vandalism of the BNP office in Kathalia Upazila.

According to police, the case against Omar was filed on December 4, 2023, by Akhtar Hossain Mirbahr, a BNP member, accusing Omar of damaging the BNP office in Kathalia.

Shahjahan Omar, who had been with BNP for many years and was elected MP several times under their banner, also served as the State Minister for Law in the last BNP government.