From BCL chief to AL second-in-command
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has been made general secretary of Awami League. Here is his brief profile.
EARLY LIFE
Quader was born on January 1, 1952 in Bara Rajapur, a village under Companiganj upazila of Noakhali. His father Mosharrof Hussain studied in Calcutta Islamia College and happened to be a classmate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. His mother Fazilatunessa was from a noble Muslim family.
Always a commendable student, Quader matriculated from Basurhat Government AHC High School. He completed HSC from Noakhali Government College and graduated from Dhaka University in political science.
His wife Isratunnesa Quader is a prominent lawyer.
POLITICAL LIFE
He took part in the six-point movement in 1966 and 11-point movement of students in 1969. In 1971, he participated in the Liberation War as the commander of Companiganj Thana Mujib Forces.
He was imprisoned at several stages in his political life. After 1975, he was jailed for two and a half years. While in prison, he was elected president of Bangladesh Chhatra League and remained so for two consecutive terms.
Quader was elected a member of parliament from Noakhali-5 in the 7th parliamentary elections of June 12, 1996. On June 23, 1996, he was appointed state minister for youth, sports and cultural affairs.
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.
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. On December 5, Hasina made him the communication minister.
Quader was elected again a member of parliament from Noakhali-5 in the 10th parliamentary election on January 5 2014. He was again given the portfolio of communication ministry.
The communication ministry was later renamed the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.
[Based on the information available at the website of Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges]