Obaidul Quader

Obaidul Quader (born 1 January 1952) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the General Secretary of the Awami League from 2016 to 2024 and as the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges from 2014 to 2024. He was one of the most powerful politicians in Bangladesh during the Hasina era. Born in Noakhali district, Quader entered politics through student politics at Dhaka University. He rose through the ranks of the Awami League and became one of the closest associates of Sheikh Hasina. He was elected to parliament multiple times from the Noakhali-5 constituency. As Road Transport and Bridges Minister, Quader oversaw some of Bangladesh's most ambitious infrastructure projects, including the Padma Bridge, the Dhaka-Chittagong highway expansion, and numerous flyovers and expressways across the country. He was known for his outspoken style and often made headlines with his bold statements. Despite being a powerful figure during the Hasina era, Quader was seen as a controversial politician. He faced criticism for his authoritarian approach to governance and was accused of using state power against political opponents.