Ever since Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina fled on August 5 after being ousted as the prime minister amid a bloody mass uprising driven by a student movement, all key leaders of her party have gone into hiding.
However, very few of her cabinet members have been arrested over the period.
But there is no trace of Awami League secretary general till date despite rumours surfaced that Obaidul Quader, commonly known as OQa, is in the military custody and would be “shown arrested on time”. A familiar face in the country`s political arena, Obaidul Quader was sarcastically called Kauwa Quader or just Kauwa.
In fact, a recent blurry photo of him cordoned off by some policemen has already gone viral.
The president dissolved the Parliament on August 6.
The 2017 warning
In a public meeting in Chittagong city on April 29, 2017, Obaidul Quader had warned the leaders and workers that power does not last long.
“So, don`t abuse the power. It`s not good. If the Awami League does not retain power, you will have to run away with money. Don`t you think of it? If the party does not stay in power, you will have to run away with the money you are earning now. So, this should be kept in mind,” he said.
`AL never flees`
OQa, echoing the party chief’s sentiment, repeatedly said in the past that they will never flee as “the Awami League does not have the history of doing so.”
Even on May 13, the AL second-in-command while addressing a mass rally in Rajshahi reiterated that.
“I will not run away; if necessary, I will go to Mr. Fakhrul`s house. Will you not give us shelter? If not, he has a house Thakurgaon and we will go to that house,” he said amid laughter and cheers from the audience.
Cases piling up
In the past few days, he along with many of his party colleagues, including Sheikh Hasina, has been sued in a number of cases on several charges including murders during the quota protests.
He faced yet another murder case around 2am on Friday.
US sanctions looming?
Six congressmen and senators last week urged the US authorities to impose sanctions on him and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan for their role in "gross human rights violations" during the recent protests.
Hinting at the US, OQa on May 22 said that the government does not care about the sanctions imposed by the supporters of genocide.
Also the former road transport and bridges minister, OQa then said, "The government does not have any headache over sanctions of those who have been giving support to genocide and the killing of children in Palestine day after day."
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