Dhaka, Feb 7 (NationPress) Ramesh Chandra Sen, a former Minister of Bangladesh and a prominent leader of the Awami League, tragically passed away on Saturday after reportedly experiencing health issues in police custody at Dinajpur District Jail, as reported by local media citing official sources.

The incident has raised alarms regarding the increasing instances of custodial deaths associated with Awami League figures in Bangladeshi prisons, further fueling accusations of political oppression and targeted actions under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Sen, who had previously held the position of Water Resources Minister and represented the Thakurgaon-1 constituency in Parliament, was declared deceased at 9:29 a.m. on Saturday by medical professionals at the emergency department of Dinajpur Medical College Hospital.

As detailed by the respected Bangladeshi daily The Dhaka Tribune, he became unwell early in the morning and was transported from Dinajpur District Jail to the hospital around 9:10 a.m.

According to jail administration sources, Sen was arrested on August 16 of the previous year and later transferred to Dinajpur District Jail.

At the time of his death, he was reportedly involved in three different legal cases, one of which pertained to murder. Jail officials noted that after his health suddenly worsened on Saturday morning, he was swiftly taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where the attending physician confirmed his death.

Dinajpur District Jail Superintendent Farhad Sarkar confirmed that the body would be returned to Sen’s family once all necessary legal processes were completed.

Born on April 30, 1940, in Kashalgaon village under Ruhia Union of Sadar upazila in Thakurgaon district, Sen was the son of Kshitindra Mohan Sen and Balashwari Sen. He completed his higher education at Rangpur Carmichael College before embarking on his political journey.

Throughout his political career, Sen was elected to the Bangladesh Parliament five times. Most recently, he won a parliamentary seat in 2024 after receiving a nomination from the Bangladesh Awami League, which was subsequently prohibited from political activities.

In addition to his ministerial duties, Sen also served as a praesidium member within the party, signifying his seniority and influence within the Awami League’s structure.

His tenure in Parliament came to an abrupt conclusion following the collapse of the Awami League government in 2024 amid a widespread student and public uprising.

Following this, President Mohammad Sahabuddin dissolved the National Parliament, resulting in Sen losing his parliamentary membership alongside various other Awami League lawmakers.

The passing of this veteran leader has reignited concerns over the alleged arbitrary detentions, custodial deaths, and reported targeting of Awami League members and supporters since the political shift in the country.

Numerous rights organizations and activists are calling for impartial and transparent investigations into such occurrences to establish accountability and uphold legal and constitutional protections.

Activists emphasize that independent inquiries into custodial deaths are crucial to maintain accountability and rebuild public trust in the judicial system, especially as worries about the treatment of political detainees in Bangladesh continue to escalate.