Sheikh Shahjahan Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More » StarsUnfolded

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sheikh Shahjahan

• Sheikh Shahjahan was born into a poor family.

• His father, Masibur Mollah, had two wives, one in India and another in Bangladesh.

• In his 20s, Sheikh Shahjahan worked as an agent in the fish market of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal.

• In 1999, he started working as a trekker driver and sometimes worked as a conductor. He then sold vegetables at the local market for some time.

• In 2003, Sheikh Shahjahan entered politics following his uncle Moslem Sheikh’s path, who contested for a panchayat pradhan election on the ticket of CPI(M).

• He then left his driving job and got involved in overseeing local Bheri farming and managing privately owned land.
  

  A young Sheikh Shahjahan

• In 2004, Sheikh Shahjahan was elected as a union leader of brick kilns in the Sandeshkhali region and held the title of the most influential worker in the region until 2010.

• Thereafter, he rose to prominence in North 24 Parganas, a district in West Bengal. Despite the Left’s series of electoral defeats since 2009, he and his uncle maintained their influence in their section of North 24 Parganas.

• Sheikh Shahjahan then gained popularity among the villagers of his area by employing hundreds of youths through his syndicates. He bought these villagers mobiles and bikes and supported poor families during weddings and funerals.

• In 2013, he switched the party, two years after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) came into power in Bengal, after realizing the importance of aligning with the ruling party to maintain power.

• After joining TMC, Sheikh Shahjahan became close to Jyotipriya Mullick, who oversaw North 24 Parganas, a district in West Bengal. He then joined Trinamool under Mullick’s guidance. Despite his uncle remaining with the CPI(M) unit, Shahjahan formed his followers and established his influence.

• According to the Sandeshkhali region villagers, he gradually expanded into the fish trade, took control of fish farms, formed his youth army, maintained connections with local party leaders, and began assisting them during elections.
  

  Sheikh Shahjahan while surveying his fishery business in West Bengal

• Sheikh Shahjahan was later appointed as Karmadhyakshya in the fisheries and animal husbandry department of North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad. He also held the position of Trinamool block president in Sandheshkhali.

• Reportedly, joining Trinamool Congress benefited him in many ways. He gained more recognition by participating in public programs such as blood donation camps, and blanket distributions, and by promoting state welfare schemes.
  

  Sheikh Shahjahan during a political convoy to resolve public issues

• Thereafter, he began facing numerous charges including extortion, assault, and murder. However, Shahjahan managed to escape prosecution and sometimes went into hiding. Meanwhile, he was also engaged in illegal cross-border trade activities.

• Sheikh Shahjahan then allegedly began creating fear among the people of the Sunderbans region in West Bengal with the help of his two brothers. Women from the area often accused him of socio-economic and sexual exploitation. His brothers helped him grab agricultural land and ponds from the marginalised and tribal people in the Sandeshkhali, Sarberia, and Dhamakhali areas.
  

  A picture of Sheikh Shahjahan and his brothers (back)

• In 2018, he was elected as the deputy head of the Sarberia Agarhati gram panchayat, which received the “Child-Friendly Panchayat Award” in 2019 from the Centre due to improvements in school dropout and child marriage rates in the area.
  

  Sheikh Shahjahan during a political campaign

• In 2021, Sheikh Shahjahan’s influence grew further as he took control of a market in Sarberia, renovated it, and renamed it after himself. Many villagers began calling him a saviour who employed youths, ensured the safety of women and children, and supported their livelihoods.

• He then served as the party convenor in the 2021 Sandeshkhali elections.

• Thereafter, Sheikh Shahjahan was appointed as the president of the Sandeshkhali TMC unit. He then won a Zilla parishad seat in 2023.

• The document he submitted for the 2023 village council elections did not mention his education.

• On 29 February 2024, the West Bengal Police arrested him for attacking ED officials in January 2024. Sheikh Shahjahan was also charged under accusations of sexual crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal.
  

  Sheikh Shahjahan after being arrested by the police in 2024