Obaidul Quader, the minister for Road Transport and Bridges from Noakhali, has been made the new general secretary of ruling Awami League for the first time. Here is the brief biography of Obaidul Quader.

Early Life:

Obaidul Quader was born on January 1, 1952, in Bara Rajapur, a village under Companiganj upazilla of Noakhali. His father Mosharrof Hussain studied at Calcutta Islamia College and happened to be a classmate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Quitting civil service his father engaged himself with the noble teaching profession. His mother Fazilatunessa was from a noble Muslim family.

Academic Career:

Always a commendable student, Obaidul Quader matriculated from Basurhat Government AHC High School and got the first division. He completed his HSC from Noakhali Government College and was placed in the merit list. He graduated from Dhaka University in political science. His wife Isratunnesa Quader is a prominent lawyer.

Political Portfolio:

He played an active role during the six-point movement in 1966. He took part actively in the mass upsurge and students’ 11-point movement in 1969. In 1971, he participated in the Liberation War as the Commander of Companigonj Thana Mujib Forces.

He was imprisoned at several stages of his action-packed political life. After 1975, he was imprisoned for an uninterrupted two and a half years. While in prison, he was elected as the President of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League, and he remained so for two consecutive terms.

Obaidul Quader was elected as a Member of Parliament from the constituency Noakhali-5 in the 7th parliamentary elections of June 12, 1996. On June 23, 1996, he was appointed as the State Minister for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs. He is a member of Presidium, Standing Committee and Parliamentary Board of Awami League.

He served as the secretary of cultural affairs and education of the central executive committee of Awami League from June 23, 2000, to December 26, 2002. He was elected first senior joint general secretary of Awami League from December 26, 2002 to July 26, 2009. While serving Awami League as the joint general secretary during the tenure of post 1/11 caretaker government, he was arrested on March 9, 2007 and remained in prison for 17 months and 26 days.

In November 2011, he took oath as a minister of the government. On December 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had assigned him with the responsibility of the communication ministry.

Obaidul Quader elected as a Member of Parliament on 5th January 2014 from the constituency Noakhali-5 for the third time in the 10th parliamentary election and took oath as the communication minister on January 12, 2014, for the second time.

Works:

Quader has also been an active journalist and writer. He worked as the assistant editor of the newspaper the daily Banglar Bani for a long time. So far, he has authored nine books namely, Bangladesh: A Revolution Betrayed (published in 1976 by Monisha Publishers, Kolkata), Bangladesher Hridoy Hote, Pakistaner Karagare Bangabandhu, Ei Bijoyer Mukut Kothai, Teen Somudrer Deshe, Meghe Meghe Onek Bela, Rochona Somogro, Karagare Lekha Onusmriti, Je Kotha Bola Hoyni and Nirbachito Column.

Obaidul Quader travelled to India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United States of America, United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Germany, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Italy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The biography is based on the information available at the website of Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.