Bangladesh Hindu leader, ex-minister Ramesh Chandra Sen dies; questions raised on custody death
Five-time Bangladesh MP and former minister Ramesh Chandra Sen died on Saturday after falling ill in custody. Bangladeshis are claiming a pattern as the death of Sen, a veteran Hindu leader, was similar to other Awami League politicians'. Sen was a mass leader and known for his helpful nature and untainted political career.
One of Bangladesh's top Hindu leaders and former minister Ramesh Chandra Sen died on Saturday after falling critically ill in custody. The death of Sen, known for his helpful nature and untainted political career, has led to renewed questions on the treatment of senior Awami League leaders and former ministers in custody.
Ramesh Chandra Sen was the former Water Resources Minister of Bangladesh and a five-time Member of Parliament (MP), winning his latest election in 2024. He was taken from Dinajpur District Jail to the emergency department of Dinajpur Medical College Hospital at 9.10 am and was pronounced dead at 9:29 am, according to a report in jagonews24.
Sen was 85 and suffering from several ailments. He wasn't being provided the care that a former minister was entitled to, according to people in the know of the jail conditions under the interim set-up of Muhammad Yunus.
He was charged with three counts, including murder, even as rampant allegations of political vendetta against Awami League (AL) leaders became the norm after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime in August 2024. Some of these "ghost cases" in Bangladesh have shocked because of their arbitrariness. The party's political activities have been banned, and it has been barred from the national election in Bangladesh on February 12.
Images of Sen, with his hands tied by ropes used for cattle, being taken to the police in August 2024 emerged on social media. It is said when most AL leaders fled after targeted attacks, Sen stayed put in his house, because of the conviction that he hadn't done anything wrong.
PRISON MURDER OF AWAMI LEAGUE LEADER, SAY BANGLADESHIS
Bangladeshis began sharing the news of Sen's death on Facebook, alleging it to be a "prison murder" and "custodial killing". There have been at least five deaths of top Awami League leaders after they fell ill in custody.
"I know that many falsehoods will be spread about him too. It will be said that he died of illness. But no—this is another killing. Part of the massacre that has been going on since 5 August 2024. In the list of those hundreds of killings, there is one more new name — Ramesh Chandra Sen," Dhaka-based content creator Prodip Kumar Choudhury wrote on Facebook.
Sen's mass appeal and political prowess can be gauged from the fact that he built his political career against Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a heavyweight of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Mirza Fakhrul, also a former minister, is now the General Secretary of the BNP.
Before Tarique Ahmad's return from the UK, Mirza Fakhrul used to be the BNP's voice for media.
WHO WAS BANGLADESH EX-MINISTER RAMESH CHANDRA PAL?
Ramesh Chandra Sen was born on April 30, 1940, and studied at Rangpur Carmichael College, according to a Dhaka Tribune report. He was first elected as an MP from Thakurgaon-1 in a by-election in February 1997, according to the Daily Star.
Sen was an MP from Thakurgaon-1 (Sadar) constituency, and also a member of the presidium of the Awami League of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He was a minister from 2009 to 2014.
Sen, who came from a well-to-do background, was known for his generosity and helpful nature. However, after chaos descended in August 2024, after Hasina fled Bangladesh, his properties were targeted.
Sen was arrested from his home at midnight on August 16 and sent to Dinajpur District Jail the following day, according to a report in The Daily Star.
"Meticulously planned prison killing under Yunus regime continues. Ramesh Chandra Sen, who served as an MP five times, was arrested on a false charge. He was elderly and in poor health. Yunus denied him basic medical care," wrote Bashabi Sarker on Facebook.
Reports in Bangladesh media suggest that Sen's body will be handed over to his family. But people are circumspect as to who would conduct the funeral as his family, like scores of Hindu and AL families, are on the run fearing for safety.
"Even without committing any crime, the entire family is on the run just to stay alive. Perhaps they won't even be able to perform his funeral," wrote Choudhury, who claimed to be a distant relative of Sen.
The death of Ramesh Chandra Sen, a senior Hindu leader and mass politician, has triggered the question if the Yunus regime was trying to do away with heavyweights from Hasina's tenure who could challenge the next dispensation. This amid reports of rampant human rights violations in Bangladesh.
One of Bangladesh's top Hindu leaders and former minister Ramesh Chandra Sen died on Saturday after falling critically ill in custody. The death of Sen, known for his helpful nature and untainted political career, has led to renewed questions on the treatment of senior Awami League leaders and former ministers in custody.
Ramesh Chandra Sen was the former Water Resources Minister of Bangladesh and a five-time Member of Parliament (MP), winning his latest election in 2024. He was taken from Dinajpur District Jail to the emergency department of Dinajpur Medical College Hospital at 9.10 am and was pronounced dead at 9:29 am, according to a report in jagonews24.
Sen was 85 and suffering from several ailments. He wasn't being provided the care that a former minister was entitled to, according to people in the know of the jail conditions under the interim set-up of Muhammad Yunus.
He was charged with three counts, including murder, even as rampant allegations of political vendetta against Awami League (AL) leaders became the norm after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime in August 2024. Some of these "ghost cases" in Bangladesh have shocked because of their arbitrariness. The party's political activities have been banned, and it has been barred from the national election in Bangladesh on February 12.
Images of Sen, with his hands tied by ropes used for cattle, being taken to the police in August 2024 emerged on social media. It is said when most AL leaders fled after targeted attacks, Sen stayed put in his house, because of the conviction that he hadn't done anything wrong.
PRISON MURDER OF AWAMI LEAGUE LEADER, SAY BANGLADESHIS
Bangladeshis began sharing the news of Sen's death on Facebook, alleging it to be a "prison murder" and "custodial killing". There have been at least five deaths of top Awami League leaders after they fell ill in custody.
"I know that many falsehoods will be spread about him too. It will be said that he died of illness. But no—this is another killing. Part of the massacre that has been going on since 5 August 2024. In the list of those hundreds of killings, there is one more new name — Ramesh Chandra Sen," Dhaka-based content creator Prodip Kumar Choudhury wrote on Facebook.
Sen's mass appeal and political prowess can be gauged from the fact that he built his political career against Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a heavyweight of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Mirza Fakhrul, also a former minister, is now the General Secretary of the BNP.
Before Tarique Ahmad's return from the UK, Mirza Fakhrul used to be the BNP's voice for media.
WHO WAS BANGLADESH EX-MINISTER RAMESH CHANDRA PAL?
Ramesh Chandra Sen was born on April 30, 1940, and studied at Rangpur Carmichael College, according to a Dhaka Tribune report. He was first elected as an MP from Thakurgaon-1 in a by-election in February 1997, according to the Daily Star.
Sen was an MP from Thakurgaon-1 (Sadar) constituency, and also a member of the presidium of the Awami League of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He was a minister from 2009 to 2014.
Sen, who came from a well-to-do background, was known for his generosity and helpful nature. However, after chaos descended in August 2024, after Hasina fled Bangladesh, his properties were targeted.
Sen was arrested from his home at midnight on August 16 and sent to Dinajpur District Jail the following day, according to a report in The Daily Star.
"Meticulously planned prison killing under Yunus regime continues. Ramesh Chandra Sen, who served as an MP five times, was arrested on a false charge. He was elderly and in poor health. Yunus denied him basic medical care," wrote Bashabi Sarker on Facebook.
Reports in Bangladesh media suggest that Sen's body will be handed over to his family. But people are circumspect as to who would conduct the funeral as his family, like scores of Hindu and AL families, are on the run fearing for safety.
"Even without committing any crime, the entire family is on the run just to stay alive. Perhaps they won't even be able to perform his funeral," wrote Choudhury, who claimed to be a distant relative of Sen.
The death of Ramesh Chandra Sen, a senior Hindu leader and mass politician, has triggered the question if the Yunus regime was trying to do away with heavyweights from Hasina's tenure who could challenge the next dispensation. This amid reports of rampant human rights violations in Bangladesh.