Obaidul Quader

Obaidul Quader (also known as Kaua Kader) is a Bangladeshi politician who has been General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League since October 2016. He is the current Minister of Road Transport and Bridges and a Member of Parliament from Noakhali-5 constituency. He is still representing Awami League in the media and working voluntarily as their media advisor. He was the State Minister of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs from 1996 to 2001.

Quader was born to Begum Fazilatunnesa (d. 2018) on 1 January 1952 in Bara Rajapur village, Companiganj Upazila in Noakhali district. He has three brother and six sisters. He completed his matriculation with a first division from Basurhat A. H. C. Government High School and HSC from Noakhali Government College with a place in the merit list. He obtained his bachelor's degree.

Quader has authored nine books. Quader was involved in politics since his college life. In 1966, he played an active role during the Six point movement. He was also active in the Mass Upsurge and the Eleven-Point Movement in 1969. After 1975, Qader was imprisoned for two and a half years. While in prison, he was elected President of the central committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League and he remained so for two consecutive terms. He worked as the assistant editor of the newspaper in Daily Banglar Bani for a long time.

Quader was elected as a Member of Parliament from the constituency Noakhali-5 in the parliamentary elections of June 12, 1996. He wasState Minister of Youth, Sports, and Cultural Affairs from June 23, 1996 to July 15, 2001, and he was first senior joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League from December 26, 2002 to July 26, 2009. He was arrested on 9 March 2007 by the Caretaker government of Bangladesh and remained in prison for 17 months and 26 days before he was released on bail on September 5, 2008.

On 5 December 2011, Quader was appointed as Minister of Communication. He was elected as a member of parliament on 5 January 2014, from the constituency Noakhali-5 for the third time in the 10th parliamentary election. He became the General Secretary of Awami League in October 2016 at the 20th council of the party.

Quader authored the following books:

• Bangladesh: A Revolution Betrayed (1976)
• 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
• Nirbachito Column
• Gangchil

Quader is married to Isratunnesa Quader.