Ramesh Chandra Sen, Awami League Leader, Dies in Jail Ahead Bangladesh Polls

Veteran politician Ramesh Chandra Sen, a senior leader of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League, died in custody at Dinajpur District Jail on Saturday, officials and local media confirmed.

Sen’s death, just days before Bangladesh’s general election scheduled for February 12, 2026, has heightened concerns over the treatment of detained political leaders and renewed debate over custodial care.

The 83-year-old reportedly fell ill inside the jail early Saturday and was rushed to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at around 9:29 am local time, according to news agency ANI, citing jail authorities.

Jail Superintendent Farhad Sarkar said Sen’s body would be handed over to his family after the completion of legal formalities.

In Custody Since 2024

Ramesh Chandra Sen had been in custody since August 16, 2024, following his arrest by Thakurgaon police. He was initially detained at Thakurgaon District Jail before being transferred to Dinajpur.

At the time of his death, Sen was facing three criminal cases, including a murder charge related to political unrest that followed a mass uprising against the Sheikh Hasina government.

Born on April 30, 1940, in Ruhia Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila, Sen represented the Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the Jatiya Sangsad several times. He was a presidium member of the Awami League and had won his most recent parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election.

However, the party was later barred from political activities under the current interim administration.

Political and Human Rights Concerns

The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and overseeing the election process, has faced growing domestic and international criticism over alleged human rights violations.

Opposition parties have argued that the deaths of high-profile detainees, including former Awami League officials, indicate systemic failures and raise serious questions about access to medical care for prisoners.

Sen’s death comes amid a tense political atmosphere, with the Awami League excluded from the upcoming polls and political divisions deepening across the country.