Obaidul Quader says being AL general secretary is highest recognition of political career

Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader has said bagging the post of general secretary of the Awami League is the greatest achievement of his life and the highest recognition of his political career.

He says his name being proposed by his predecessor Syed Ashraful Islam was the biggest surprise of this year's National Council.

After being thrust into the key post the day before, Quader appeared at a press conference at a community hall on Monday in Dhaka.

Four joint general secretaries of the party – Mahbub-Ul Alam Hanif, Dipu Moni, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman – were with Quader.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Hasan Mahmud, Ahmed Hossain and BM Muzammel Haque were also with him at the media call.

There, he presented a blueprint of how he plans to lead the party forward in line with the aspirations of party chief Sheikh Hasina.

He said the seven-year experience of his predecessor will inspire and guide him to take his plans forward.

He also disclosed the buzz around a possible 'surprise' regarding the post of general secretary.

"Syed Ashraf proposed my name. That was the surprise. This is Sheikh Hasina for you."

Quader who led the Bangladesh Chhatra League during the turbulent 1975 after Bangabandhu's assassination, said "I have been rewarded for my hard work. I have received the highest recognition of my political life. ...Sheikh Hasina has given me the greatest recognition of my life."

‘Opinions divided, hearts united’

Quader said there can be no division or injustice in Hasina's party and that he would take the party forward on the basis of 'traditional cooperation'.

"Even today we spoke during the Cabinet meeting. I was surprised. Everything was easy about him (Syed Ashraf). He is definitely easy. I saw no frustration on his face. He looked livelier than he did on many other Cabinet meetings."

"This is the Awami League tradition," the new general secretary said, "we may have differences of opinions with someone but never differences of heart," Quader commented.

Agenda setting

Quader spoke of three agenda that will guide his steps ahead.

Agenda 1: Discourage, destroy and defeat terrorism.

Agenda 2: Prepare for making the Sheikh Hasina-led party return to power by stepping up networking, building connections with the grassroots and gaining more acceptability among the people.

Agenda 3: Materialise the Awami League's ‘Vision 2021’ goals. He said the ‘Vision 2041’ had been dropped from the council agenda this time because the time is yet far way.

Easier work now

Quader said the new party responsibilities would help him to devote more time to his party problems now.

He said many party leaders and workers would approach him with their problems.

"I hit the road then to look into the road work. Now I can look into party problems."