A. S. M. Shahjahan

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 1971.

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.

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.

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

• President of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa).[7][8]
• Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Asia Pacific[9]
• Members of Transparency International Bangladesh.[10]

• Police and politics, ASM Shahjahan's Article in The Daily Star, published in 23 February 2010.
• Exclusive Interview, in The Daily Star, published in 15 May 2012.