Ex-minister Ramesh Chandra Sen dies in jail

Former minister for Water Resources and Awami League leader Ramesh Chandra Sen died after falling ill at Dinajpur District Jail on Saturday morning.

Sen became seriously unwell around 9am. He was immediately taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead shortly afterwards.

Dinajpur District Jail Superintendent Farhad Sarkar said Sen had been suffering from health complications even before being transferred to the jail.

“His physical condition suddenly worsened in the morning. He was rushed to the hospital, but we later received confirmation of his death,” he said.

Hospital authorities said Sen was brought to the emergency department in critical condition.

Masud Rana, ward master at Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, stated that the on-duty physician declared him dead at 9:29am.

Born on 30 April 1940, in Ruhia Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila, Ramesh Chandra Sen, was the son of Kshitindra Mohan Sen and Balashwari Sen.

He was 86 at the time of his death.

Sen was elected several times from the Thakurgaon-1 constituency and served as a presidium member of the Awami League. Over the course of his political career, he held key cabinet responsibilities, including the Ministries of Food and Water Resources.

Following the student–public uprising in 2024, he was arrested and had been in custody at Dinajpur District Jail since 17 August.