Shajahan Siraj
Shajahan Siraj was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the vice chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. 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.
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. 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 3 March 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.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. During his tenure as the environment minister, the use and production of plastic shopping bags were banned in Bangladesh, 3-stroke scooters were withdrawn from the road, and social tree plantation turned into a movement.In 2007, arrest warrants were issued for Siraj in connection with thirteen charges of tax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. He was sentenced to thirteen years in jail, and his wife three. That conviction was overturned in 2010.