BD election turning more challenging, former Hindu MP dies in custody, violence amidst hectic campaigning

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 7, 2026

With the crucial election to the 300-member National Assembly in Bangladesh barely five days away on February 12 the lawless condition in Bangladesh is rapidly worsening. In the latest instance of prevailing anarchic condition , former five-time Hindu MP of now-banned Awami League , octogenarian Ramesh Chandra Sen (85) who was also a minister in Sheikh Hasina’s ousted government died in jail this morning.

Sources from Bangladesh said that former Water Resources minister and five-time Awami League lawmaker Ramesh Chandra Sen has died after falling ill at Dinajpur District Jail. Sen, 85, was taken to the emergency department of Dinajpur Medical College Hospital at around 9:10am today after his health deteriorated inside the jail. Doctors declared him dead at 9:29am, hospital sources said.

According to jail authorities, he had been detained since August 16 last year and was later transferred to Dinajpur District Jail. At the time of his death, he was facing three cases, including a murder charge.Dinajpur District Jail Superintendent Farhad Sarkar confirmed the death, saying the body would be handed over to the family following the completion of necessary legal formalities.

Ramesh Chandra Sen was born on April 30, 1940, in Kashalgaon village of Ruhia Union under Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. His father was Kshitindra Mohan Sen and his mother Balashwari Sen. He studied at Rangpur Carmichael College.Sen, a veteran politician, was elected to parliament five times. Most recently, he became a Member of Parliament in 2024 after securing nomination from the Bangladesh Awami League and winning the Thakurgaon-1 (Sadar) constituency. He also served as a presidium member of the party.Following the fall of the Awami League government in a student-public uprising in 2024, President Mohammad Sahabuddin dissolved the National Parliament, resulting in Sen losing his parliamentary seat. The Awami League was later banned from political activities.

Meanwhile, the BNP supremo Tariqe Rahaman whose party is widely tipped to win the February 12 election is all set to go on a whirlwind tour of all constituencies in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. He will be addressing altogether fourteen poll rallies , having rounded off his tour of the country in connection with the election. In a new turn to the growing tension over upcoming election the Jamat-e-Islami supremo Shafiqur Rahaman has challenged the BNP chief Tarique Rahaman to a debate on an open platform to elaborate on his political position ahead of the election . However, BNP is yet to respond to this . Apart from this, thirteen supporters of BNP and an independent candidate in Natore district under Barisal division sustained injuries in a major clash last night around 8-00 PM. Sources said that while passing a BNP election office in the town the supporters of independent candidate Taiful Islam Tipu had turned violent and was counter-attacked by the workers of BNP candidate Farzana Sharmin . The clash left thirteen injured and finally the police disengaged the clashing supporters.

more news...