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Published : 15 Dec 2017, 09:24 PM
Quader was consoling the grieving family of Mohiuddin at their resident at Chashma Hill in the port city on Friday.
"It's not only the people of Chittagong who are mourning him but the people all over the country are in mourning today. Our leader and party chief (Sheikh Hasina) was crying this morning," he told a group of reporters after meeting the bereaved family of Mohiuddin.
Quader himself could not hold back tears at the time.
"He has left us forever; he left us in sorrow," he uttered.
A close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mohiuddin was a Chittagong City Chhatra League leader in the 60s. He was president of Chittagong Awami League for about a decade while elected mayor of the city for three terms. His political career expanded for five and a half decades.
Quader said Hasina had requested him to join her cabinet of ministers but he politely declined the offer.
"Our party chief also wanted him to become a presidium member; he did not accept (the offer). Mohiuddin had said his life was dedicated to the people of Chittagong; he did not want to become a leader outside Chittagong," Quader added.
He had played a vital role in the anti-autocracy movement in early 90s in the port city and forced the local government ministry to postpone decision to increase city corporation tax.
Hasina at a meeting on Mar 13 this year at the port city said: "Mohiuddin Chowdhury won the elections in Chittagong even when we were in the opposition. The reality is that the most development work for Chittagong was done during his tenure."
She used to address him 'Mohiuddin Bhai' and always looked for him whenever she attended a programme in Chittagong, Quader added.
According to Quader, Hasina expressed her confidence in and fondness for Mohiuddin in different party meetings.
After Mohiuddin lost the city corporation election in 2010, Hasina wanted to make him a minister but he declined.
Mohiuddin himself had admitted to bdnews24.com at the time about the offer of becoming a minister.
Thousands of supporters and well-wishers from across the party divide thronged Mohiuddin's residence in Chittagong to mourn his death and console the bereaved family.
