Ramesh Chandra Sen, a prominent Bangladesh Awami League leader and former Water Resources Minister, died Saturday morning while in custody at Dinajpur District Jail. The 83-year-old politician fell ill early that day and was rushed to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 9:29 a.m. local time.
Dinajpur jail authorities confirmed the details. Superintendent Farhad Sarkar stated that Sen’s body would be released to his family after completing all legal formalities.
Sen’s death occurs just days before Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections on February 12, drawing fresh attention to the interim government’s handling of detained politicians.
Who Was Ramesh Chandra Sen?
Born on April 30, 1940, in Ruhia Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila, Sen was a veteran politician. He represented the Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the Jatiya Sangsad multiple times and served as a presidium member of the Awami League.
Authorities detained him on August 16, 2024, during widespread political unrest that sparked a mass uprising against the Sheikh Hasina-led government. He faced three cases, including one related to murder amid the upheaval.
Awami League Condemns the Death
The Bangladesh Awami League strongly condemned Sen’s death, accusing the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of targeting its leaders and activists through violence or state mechanisms.
Awami League President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a statement protesting the incident. She described it as a killing by the “illegal occupying, murderous-fascist Yunus clique” and alleged ongoing attacks on party members.
“They have been continuing to kill Awami League leaders and activists by directly and indirectly instigating violence or by using the state machinery,” Hasina stated. “In a planned manner, they have stripped Awami League leaders, activists, and supporters of their civil rights. They are not only turning them into stateless citizens but are also carrying out uninterrupted killings one after another.”
Hasina called on the world to note the “hellish state terror” against the historic Awami League party.
