Quader breaks silence: ‘I hid for 5-hours in bathroom’

General Secretary of 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 that led to the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

In his first media appearance since the ouster, Quader described the chaotic events of that day and his narrow escape. “It was a planned student uprising, but it soon turned into a looting rampage. I was not supposed to survive that day,” said Quader, explaining that he had taken refuge in a neighbor’s house, only for that house to be attacked too.

According to Quader, as protestors broke in and began vandalizing the property, he and his wife took shelter in the bathroom. “We were hiding for five hours. They started looting bathroom fittings too. My wife kept saying I was ill, trying to keep them out,” he recounted.

Eventually, the attackers discovered him. “Some of them recognized me and suddenly their tone changed. They took selfies and debated what to do—some wanted to hand me over to the army, others to the angry crowd,” he said.

He escaped disguised in a protester’s shirt and mask, eventually slipping away in a rickshaw with the help of two individuals from the group. “It was sheer luck. I don’t know why they helped me,” he added.

Quader said he remained in Bangladesh for about three months after the fall of the government, attempting to connect with labor movements and monitor growing unrest. Facing mounting legal cases and personal health concerns, he eventually left the country, reportedly returning to India, where he had previously taken refuge after the 1975 jail killings.

When asked about the use of student groups like the Chhatra League to resist the uprising, Quader denied ordering such action. “I never told anyone to suppress the uprising using Chhatra League. That’s misinformation spread on YouTube,” he claimed.

Quader accepted some level of responsibility for the collapse but emphasized he had followed orders from his party leadership. “There may have been mistakes, but I didn’t engage in extortion or take commissions,” he asserted.

Regarding allegations of corruption, electoral manipulation, and human rights violations under the Awami League, Quader responded, “No country develops at this scale without criticism. Time will judge our contributions and our faults.”

He dismissed speculation that his prolonged silence post-uprising was punishment from within the party. “Many said I was sidelined. But I was reappointed three times as General Secretary. The Prime Minister herself was worried for my health,” he said.