The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised question about the explanation of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader over his luxury wristwatche collection  and termed his explanation in this regard inadequate and questionable. In a press statement on Friday, the Bangladesh chapter of global corruption watchdog, TIB called upon the government to inform the nation why the costly wristwatches of Obaidul Quader have not been deposited to the country's Toshakhana yet.

Toshakhana is a storehouse where gifts, received by the president, prime minister, ministers, and other government officials during their time in office, are deposited.

Sweden-based online news portal Netra News on 26 December 2019 published a report - A wrist of luxury – on luxury watches Quader wears. The investigative report published seven photos of Quader with seven different watches including their brand names and prices. All the photos were taken from his Facebook page. Access to the website from Bangladesh was blocked within 72 hours of publication of the report.

A newsman, quoting the Netra News report on Thursday, asked him, “You’re a smart person and wear watches of different brands. Is the use of these costly watches in keeping with your annual income shown in affidavit submitted to the Election Commission?”

Stopping the reporter halfway through the sentence Quader said he did not buy any of the costly watches or clothes he uses. “For God’s sake, I haven’t bought a single one of those. I received those as gifts. Maybe many people might have loved me.” The ruling party senior leader also claimed he did not take any money from any contractor either.

In this context TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, in a media statement, said, “However, he (the minister) got those gifts but, according to Toshakhana laws of 1974, amended in June, 2012, he should have deposited those gifts to Toshakhana on time. Since he has decided not to deposit those, which laws obligate, or the money equivalent to actual prices of those gifts to the state exchequer, so people have every right to know answers to these specific questions.”