Obaidul Quader's obsession with watches and women was a subject of discussion both in the ministry and in political circles. He himself once said, "I don’t wear any watch priced below 1 million taka." At his house, he proudly built a display case for watches, where luxurious watches from the world’s most expensive brands were showcased.
Quader would boast, "I never wear the same watch twice in a month." He owned watches worth hundreds of crores of taka. Yet, once he used to sleep on newsprint on the floor of Banglar Bani newspaper office. He couldn’t even afford two meals a day, and had been evicted twice from his home due to unpaid rent.
But once Quader became a minister, it was as if he had found Aladdin’s lamp. His lifestyle changed overnight. On one hand, he became addicted to luxurious clothes, watches, and perfumes. He forcefully extracted gifts; those who didn’t offer gifts would send beautiful women to him instead. Among contractors of Roads and Highways, a rhyme circulated: “If you want your bill passed, give a watch or a woman.”
His special weakness for women was widely known. If he had female company, he would forget his official duties. Investigations revealed that Quader preferred receiving expensive watches from globally renowned brands as gifts from contractors. In return for approving large contracts, beyond the commission money, Quader would demand a luxury branded watch. If such a watch was gifted, the bill would be passed quickly. Contractors in the ministry were well aware of the minister's watch obsession.
None of Quader’s watches cost less than 1 million taka. All of them were from expensive brands. Investigations show that the brands he wore included Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chopard, Ulysse Nardin, and Louis Vuitton. The total value of his watches was over hundreds of crores of taka. He didn’t buy them—contractors gave them to him.
Aside from watches, he also had a strong attraction to expensive suits and clothes. Once, he used to dry and re-wear the same piece of clothing, using a shirt for 3–4 days at a time. But later, Quader wouldn’t wear anything other than high-end branded suits and shirts. Most recently, he was seen in a custom-designed Armani suit—with a letter “ক” (K) embroidered, indicating it was designed exclusively for him. Armani charges at least $30,000 for such custom suits, around 3.8 million taka.
Quader also spent lavishly on shoes, opting for expensive ones. But the question is—Quader had no legitimate income. He was not involved in any business. He worked in journalism at Banglar Bani and then moved full-time into politics. So, how could he afford Rolex watches? How could he wear Louis Vuitton suits or Hugo Boss shoes? There is no answer.
Quader, however, took immense pride in flaunting these items. When journalists visited, he would raise his wrist to show his watch, saying, “This one costs 7.5 million taka.” Showing off his eyeglass frame, he would say, “This frame costs 1.5 million.” And regarding his suit, he’d say, “This was bought for $20,000.”
In this way, he flaunted his wealth. But no one dared ask—how could a minister with a lakh-taka salary afford outfits worth crores?
Alongside clothing, his fondness for women was also widely known. General party workers couldn’t get an audience with Quader. Even with an appointment, he wouldn’t see them. But if the visitor was a woman—no problem. Female workers were given easy access. He was especially interested in attending programs at Eden College and Badrunnesa College, known for their female students. Many pictures with these women circulated on social media at different times.
But his special interest was in film actresses. He liked inviting them to his house, taking pictures, chatting, and spending long hours with them. He inaugurated women's poetry books, watched fashion shows and film screenings—all with ample time to spare. He even wrote stories to attract women. He got close to actresses by promising to make films—but the films were never made.
He wrote a story called Gangchil, and paid 20 million taka to a director to make a movie based on it. Ferdous was cast as the lead actor, and Purnima as the actress. Under the pretext of this film, Quader attended several events with Purnima. But it wasn't just Purnima—there were others like Mahiya Mahi, who reportedly received extra privileges from Quader. Within the party, this was an open secret.
And a large portion of the wealth Quader amassed through bribes, corruption, and embezzlement was spent on these actresses. One of his habits was chatting with these women for hours. Investigations showed that whenever he traveled abroad, such actresses often traveled before or after him. He would later have them join the Awami League. They would then participate in various events as representatives of the party. Whenever Quader went on tours outside Dhaka, whether for organizational or ministerial purposes, he was always accompanied by actresses or women.
What he truly needed was bribe money. Serving 12 years as a minister and 10 years as the party's general secretary, Quader looted thousands of crores of taka. As a result, his wealth and extravagance exploded, and his addiction to women was a natural consequence. His close associates would say that Quader had no place left to store money. So, he spent it lavishly on women.
One of Quader’s known lieutenants was former Gazipur mayor Jahangir Alam. Jahangir had a garden house, and Quader would frequently visit Gazipur. He’d inspect roads and bridges during the day and spend the afternoons at the bungalow—where a particular woman had to be present. If not, Quader would become furious and abuse everyone. Everyone in the Awami League knew that attractive women who met with Quader personally were more likely to be appointed to committees. Many women received committee positions simply by building rapport with Quader.
Quader has become a disgusting name in Bangladeshi politics. On one hand, he looted through endless corruption, and on the other, used that loot for vulgar and repulsive displays that created public resentment. His fondness for women made him a laughingstock in society.
Now there’s hope—as investigations into Quader’s corruption and irregularities are underway. His bank accounts in the country have been frozen. But many believe that he holds vast assets in foreign banks too, having laundered money abroad. It is hoped that the government will now sincerely try to recover those funds.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
