Controversy Surrounds Obaidul Quader’s Tenure as Awami League General Secretary

Obaidul Quader served as the General Secretary of the Awami League for over a decade, making him the longest-serving holder of this position and the only one elected for three consecutive terms. During this period, he also held the portfolio of Minister of Road Transport and Bridges. However, his tenure has been marred by allegations of widespread corruption.

Sources suggest that Quader amassed at least 3,000 crore Bangladeshi Taka through trading party positions and nominations. As the party’s General Secretary, he held exclusive authority over committee formations, which he reportedly finalized after obtaining verbal approval from Sheikh Hasina. This process allegedly became a lucrative business, with many referring to him pejoratively as “Kaua Quader,” meaning “Crow Quader,” due to the controversy surrounding his dealings.

Reports indicate that money changed hands at every level of party committees, from wards to the central body. The selection process was allegedly driven by financial bids rather than merit. To secure a ward-level committee position, the fee was often between 5 and 10 lakh Taka, while top posts like ward president or general secretary could cost up to 20 lakh Taka. At the thana level, the fee ranged from 15 to 20 lakh Taka, and at the district level, it was between 25 and 30 lakh. The most lucrative were metropolitan committees, where fees could reach one crore Taka.

Over the past decade, all district and upazila committees of the Awami League are said to have been formed through these monetary exchanges. The process involved organizational secretaries, assigned to oversee eight divisions, acting as auctioneers demanding money from prospective candidates and recording the highest bids. These names were then forwarded to Quader, who calculated his own share before approving the selections.

These allegations paint a picture of a party apparatus where financial dealings, rather than merit or loyalty, played a central role in organizational decisions, casting a shadow over the integrity of the party’s leadership.