Veteran politician Ramesh Chandra Sen, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Awami League, the party of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, died on Saturday while in custody at the Dinajpur district jail, officials and local reports confirmed.
The 83-year-old man fell ill inside the prison on Saturday morning and was taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. (Ramesh Chandra Sen@Facebook)Sen’s death, which occurred just days before Bangladesh’s general election on February 12, 2026, has intensified concerns about the treatment of detained politicians and sparked debate over care in custody.
The 83-year-old man fell ill inside the prison on Saturday morning and was taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. News agency ANI reported quoting Dinajpur Jail authorities that doctors declared him dead at 9:29 am local time.
Also read Elections will be held in Bangladesh on February 12 after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Details here
Jail Superintendent Farhad Sarkar told reporters that Sen’s body will be released to the family after completing all legal procedures.
Sen has been in custody since 2024Ramesh Chandra Sen has been in custody since August 16, 2024 after he was arrested by the Thakurgaon police. He was first lodged in Thakurgaon District Jail before being transferred to Dinajpur.
At the time of his death, Sen was facing three cases against the Sheikh Hasina government, including a murder charge linked to the political unrest after the coup.
Also read Decoding the Revival of Jamaat-e-Islami: Who, What and Why Ahead of 2026 Bangladesh Elections
Born on April 30, 1940 in Ruhia Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila, Sen represented Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the National Parliament several times.
He was a presidium member of the Awami League and won his most recent parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election. Later, the party was barred from participating in politics during the current interim administration.
The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and overseeing the election process has faced international and domestic criticism over human rights issues.
Opposition parties argue that the deaths of high-profile prisoners, including former Awami League officials, point to systemic problems and raise questions about the medical care of prisoners.
Sen’s death comes amid a tense political environment in Bangladesh, where the Awami League was ruled out of the upcoming elections.
(with ANI input)
