- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:24 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Veteran Awami League leader and prominent Hindu figure Ramesh Chandra Sen died in judicial custody in Bangladesh on Saturday, intensifying concerns over the treatment of political detainees in the country’s prison system. Sen, aged 83, reportedly fell seriously ill inside jail early Saturday morning and was rushed to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at around 9:29 am local time.
Jail Superintendent Farhad Sarkar said the body would be handed over to Sen’s family after completion of legal formalities, according to news agency ANI. Prison authorities cited illness as the cause of death, though the family has questioned the circumstances surrounding his treatment in custody.
Eighteen Months In Jail, Bail Repeatedly Denied
Sen had been in custody for around 18 months, during which his health steadily deteriorated. Family members and party colleagues alleged that despite his advanced age and multiple medical conditions, he was repeatedly denied bail on health grounds and provided only minimal medical care inside prison. “They never let him come out. Every time bail seemed possible, a new case appeared,” a close associate said.
A former member of the Awami League Presidium and Advisory Council, Sen had spent decades in politics and education and was once regarded as a respected public figure. His circumstances changed dramatically after he was allegedly attacked and humiliated by a mob before being taken into police custody in August 2024.
He was arrested from his home in Thakurgaon on August 16 and later sent to jail. A court ordered his transfer from Thakurgaon District Jail to Dinajpur, where he faced three cases, including a murder charge linked to political unrest following the mass uprising against the government of former prime inister Sheikh Hasina.
Who Was Ramesh Chandra Sen?
Born on April 30, 1940, in Ruhia Union under Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila, Ramesh Chandra Sen was elected multiple times from the Thakurgaon-1 constituency to the JatiyaSangsad. He secured his most recent parliamentary victory in the 2024 general election, before the Awami League was later barred from political activity by the current interim administration.
Family Alleges Denial Of Care And Dignity
Relatives alleged that Sen was deliberately kept behind bars despite his fragile condition. “He was denied proper care. He was denied dignity. He was denied even basic human rights,” a family member said, accusing authorities of ignoring repeated pleas for medical bail.
Sen’s death has renewed scrutiny of custodial deaths in Bangladesh. The Awami League cited data from rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), claiming at least 107 prisoners died in custody in 2025 alone, many of them leaders and activists of the party. In most cases, authorities reportedly cited causes such as “sudden illness” or “heart attack”, with opposition leaders alleging a lack of proper investigations.