General Secretary of the Awami League, Obaidul Quader, revealed in an interview with Indian news outlet The Wall that he hid in a bathroom for five hours during the mass student-led uprising on August 5, which eventually led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
In his first media appearance since the government’s ouster, Quader recounted the chaos and his narrow escape that day. “It was a planned student uprising, but it quickly turned into a looting spree. I wasn’t expected to survive,” he said, explaining that he initially took refuge in a neighbor’s home, which was also attacked.
As protestors broke in and began vandalizing the property, Quader and his wife hid in the bathroom. “We stayed hidden for five hours. They even started looting bathroom fittings. My wife kept telling them I was ill to keep them away,” he recalled.
Eventually, the attackers found him. “Some recognized me, and their attitude changed. They took selfies and debated whether to hand me over to the army or the angry mob,” he added.
Quader managed to escape by disguising himself in a protester’s shirt and mask and fled in a rickshaw with the help of two people from the crowd. “It was pure luck. I don’t know why they helped me,” he said.
He stayed in Bangladesh for about three months after the government fell, trying to connect with labor groups and monitor unrest. However, due to mounting legal cases and health issues, he left the country, reportedly returning to India, where he had previously sought refuge following the 1975 jail killings.
When asked about the involvement of student groups like the Chhatra League in suppressing the uprising, Quader denied giving any orders. “I never instructed anyone to use the Chhatra League against the protesters. That’s misinformation spread on YouTube,” he stated.
Quader acknowledged some responsibility for the government’s collapse but emphasized he acted under party leadership orders. “Mistakes may have been made, but I never engaged in extortion or took commissions,” he insisted.
Responding to allegations of corruption, electoral manipulation, and human rights abuses under the Awami League, he said, “No country develops on this scale without criticism. Time will judge both our achievements and mistakes.”
Addressing rumors that his long silence after the uprising was a form of party punishment, Quader dismissed them. “Many thought I was sidelined, but I was reappointed three times as General Secretary. The Prime Minister herself was concerned about my health,” he concluded.
