Awami League's old-time stalwart, former student wing president Obaidul Quader has been with the party since his days in Noakhali College, and then Dhaka University where he studied political science.
During the war he led the local Mujib Bahini unit in Companyganj, his hometown.
While in prison after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's murder in 1975, Quader was made the president of Bangladesh Chhatra League and remained for two consecutive terms, leading the organisation during the difficult times of military regime. He became Juba League chairman in the 1990s.
In Awami League's 1996 term, Quader was the state minister for sports. In the last elections, he beat BNP's Moudud Ahmed at Noakhali-5. Currently he is a presidium member in the party and chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on information ministry.
