Former Water Resources Minister and senior Awami League leader Ramesh Chandra Sen died in custody at Dinajpur District Jail, prompting renewed scrutiny of the treatment and medical care of elderly detainees. He was 85. Jail and hospital officials said Sen’s condition deteriorated inside the jail yesterday morning.
He was taken to the emergency department of Dinajpur Medical College Hospital at around 9:10 am and was declared dead just 19 minutes later, at 9:29 am. Dinajpur District Jail Superintendent Farhad Sarkar confirmed the death, saying the body would be handed over to the family after legal formalities. Authorities, however, did not clarify whether Sen had been under regular medical supervision or why his condition worsened so rapidly in custody.
Sen, a five-time Member of Parliament from Thakurgaon-1 (Sadar), was arrested on August 16, 2024, at his residence following cases filed after the August 5 political upheaval. Hospital officials and Awami League leaders said Sen had long suffered from age-related illnesses and was already in poor health at the time of his arrest, fueling criticism over the decision to keep an ailing octogenarian in jail and the adequacy of medical care provided to him while in custody.
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