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Dhaka . Ramesh Chandra Sen, a prominent Hindu leader in Bangladesh and a senior Awami League leader, has died in prison. He served as Water Resources Minister in the Sheikh Hasina government. Sen, a five-time MP, won his last election in 2024. His death has raised serious questions about the safety of senior Awami League leaders and former ministers currently in prison.

According to a report in Bangladesh’s leading newspaper Pratham Alo, Sen’s health suddenly deteriorated at around 9:10 a.m. on Saturday, after which he was taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. Doctors declared him dead at 9:30 a.m.

Suddenly his health deteriorated and he died in the hospital.

The jail superintendent was quoted as saying that Ramesh Chandra Sen collapsed around 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. He was immediately taken to the hospital, but his life could not be saved. The 86-year-old Sen suffered from several ailments. However, some people familiar with the case claim that he was not receiving proper care in prison.

Photos of hands tied went viral

Ramesh Chandra Sen was arrested in August 2024 after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. He was charged with three counts, including murder.
In August 2024, photos of him went viral on social media, showing his hands tied with rope. While many Awami League leaders were fleeing the country or going into hiding due to fear of attacks, Sen chose to remain at home. He believed he had done nothing wrong.

Who was Ramesh Chandra Sen?

Ramesh Chandra Sen, a five-time Member of Parliament from the Thakurgaon-1 constituency, was considered one of Bangladesh’s prominent minority Hindu leaders.
He was born on April 30, 1940, in Ruhiya Union, Thakurgaon District. He served as Water Resources Minister in the Sheikh Hasina government from 2009 to 2014.
He first entered Parliament by winning a by-election in 1997 and was subsequently elected in 2008, 2014, 2018, and 2024.

Questions raised on social media

Ramesh Chandra Sen’s death has sparked a variety of reactions on social media. Some have questioned the claim, calling it a custodial death.
According to reports, at least five senior Awami League leaders have died after falling ill in custody.

“They will say he died of illness, but no—this is another murder. It’s part of a series that has been going on since August 5, 2024,” Dhaka resident Pradip Chowdhury wrote on Facebook.