Amid intense protests, the Awami League government fell on August 5, prompting party leader Sheikh Hasina to flee to India. Various ministers, MPs, and top officials went into hiding, with some seeking refuge under military protection. Recently, the whereabouts of Obaidul Quader, the Awami League's general secretary, have come under scrutiny. The former road transport and bridges minister's location remains unclear. Whether he is under military custody or in hiding has become a pressing question.

Before and after the fall of the Awami League government, several of its key leaders fled the country. Some are now residing in India, while others have sought refuge in Singapore, Canada, and other Western countries. However, a source based in India confirmed that Obaidul Quader has not left for India or any other country.

Obaidul Quader was a key figure in the government led by Sheikh Hasina, serving as the Awami League’s general secretary for three consecutive terms and overseeing the Road Transport and Bridges ministry. However, his various comments over time sparked discussions and controversies among both opponents and his own party members. As a result, he often faced criticism from within his party.

On August 13, during a press conference at Rajshahi Cantonment, Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman was asked by journalists about the military’s involvement in sheltering the ousted government’s ministers and MPs. He responded, “If someone’s life is in danger, regardless of religion or ethnicity, we have provided them with shelter. If there are any allegations against them, if they face legal charges, they will be held accountable. But we do not want any extrajudicial actions or attacks. We have provided protection to those whose lives were at risk, regardless of their political affiliation, beliefs, or religion.”

Following this, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a press release on August 18, stating that after Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power, 626 citizens, including political leaders, judges, and police officers, sought refuge in various cantonments. Of these, 615 voluntarily left the cantonments, four were handed over to law enforcement agencies, and seven remain under military protection. The ISPR did not specify whether Obaidul Quader or any other individuals are among those still in military custody.

Since the ISPR’s press release, several prominent figures from the ousted Awami League have been arrested in different locations. However, no information has yet surfaced regarding the whereabouts of Obaidul Quader. When contacted, several central leaders of the Awami League were unable to provide any details about his location. They also reported that attempts to reach him for guidance following the government’s collapse had also been unsuccessful.

An Awami League organizing secretary, speaking to Bonik Barta on condition of anonymity, said, “The fall of the government has led to the collapse of the Awami League’s organizational activities. We have not been able to establish contact with our party leader. Even attempts to reach Quader Bhai have failed. We have no clue about his whereabouts, condition, or health. Our party workers are looking for direction on how to deal with the changing situation, but we haven’t been able to provide that either.”

Badiul Alam Majumdar, the Secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN), has expressed the need for transparency regarding individuals held in military custody. Speaking to Bonik Barta, he stated, “We have previously demanded the publication of the list of individuals detained by the military. Additionally, there should be an explanation as to why they were released. Those who have committed crimes have done so under the penal code. It is necessary to report on the custody and release of potential suspects.”

Obaidul Quader, the General Secretary of the Awami League, began his political career in student politics. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in the 7th national election in 1996. During that term, he was appointed the State Minister for Youth, Sports, and Cultural Affairs in the Awami League government. From 2000 to 2002, Quader served as the Secretary of Cultural and Educational Affairs for the Awami League’s central committee. In 2002, he was elected as the Joint Secretary of the central committee, a position he held until 2009. During this tenure, Quader was arrested by the caretaker government on March 9, 2007, and spent 17 months and 26 days in prison. He was also seriously injured in the grenade attack at the Awami League rally on August 21, 2004.

On December 5, 2011, Obaidul Quader was appointed as the Minister of Communications. He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament for the third time from the Noakhali-5 constituency in the 10th national election on January 5, 2014. Subsequently, he was elected as an MP for the fourth and fifth times in 2018 and 2024, respectively.

In the Awami League’s 20th national conference in 2016, Quader was elected as the General Secretary of the party for the first time, succeeding Sayed Ashraful Islam. He was re-elected for a second term in the 21st national conference in 2019 and for a third consecutive term in the 22nd conference in 2022. Party members have accused Quader of forming his own faction within the party after becoming General Secretary. There have also been allegations that he presented personal decisions as party decisions. Additionally, it is said that he created barriers to communication between senior party leaders, MPs, and ministers with Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

Regarding this matter, a former member of the deposed government’s cabinet, speaking on condition of anonymity, remarked, “The fall of the government had become inevitable. When students began dying due to police gunfire, we realized that the situation was spiraling out of the government’s control. But why the Awami League failed to understand this remains a mystery to me. Up until the government’s fall, we received no communication from the party’s top leadership. When the mourning day program began, Quader Bhai only asked us to come to the party office. They had created a circle around Apa (Sheikh Hasina), which prevented the party high command from understanding the extent of the movement.”

Obaidul Quader was born on January 1, 1952, in the village of Boro Rajapur in Companiganj Upazila, Noakhali. He passed the matriculation examination with first division from Basurhat Government A.H.C. High School. He placed on the merit list in the Higher Secondary Examination from Noakhali Government College. Quader later earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Dhaka. After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family on August 15, 1975, Quader was imprisoned for two and a half years. While in prison, he was elected President of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and held the position for two consecutive terms. Quader also had a career in journalism, serving as Assistant Editor of the daily Banglar Bani newspaper for an extended period. He has authored nine books to date.

Obaidul Quader has been physically unwell for several years. On March 2, 2019, he was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University due to breathing difficulties. An angiogram revealed three blockages in the arteries of his heart. Following a consultation with Indian cardiologist Dr. Devi Shetty, Quader was advised to seek treatment in Singapore. On March 4, he was taken to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore via air ambulance. Quader underwent bypass surgery there on March 20. After two months and 11 days of treatment in Singapore, he returned to Bangladesh on the evening of May 15. Since then, Quader has resumed his political activities.

It’s not just Obaidul Quader; a significant portion of the Awami League’s central and advisory committee members are also suffering from age-related illnesses. However, they remain somewhat isolated and in hiding. Regarding this, Awami League Organizing Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi stated, “Except for a few individuals, we haven’t been able to contact most of them. Many are physically unwell. We have no idea about their current condition.”