The death of Bangladeshi former Water Resources Minister and five-time lawmaker from Thakurgaon-1, Ramesh Chandra Sen, in prison custody has added to a growing list of custodial deaths in Bangladesh, with at least 112 people reported dead in jail over the past one and a half years, according to human rights monitors.
Sen died late last night while undergoing treatment under prison custody. His death comes amid mounting allegations of custodial killings, medical neglect, and abuse targeting detained leaders and activists of the Awami League following the student–mass uprising of August 2024.
Data compiled by the human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) shows that all reported victims were affiliated with the Awami League at different levels. Of the total deaths, 65 occurred in 2024, while the number rose to 95 by November 2025, eventually reaching 112 by December 2025.
Families of the deceased and party leaders claim these deaths are not natural but part of a systematic and premeditated campaign. They allege that senior figures of the interim government—including Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Khalilur Rahman, and Dr Ali Riaz—are overseeing what they describe as a “meticulous design” to eliminate political opponents inside prisons.
According to these allegations, detainees have been routinely denied proper medical treatment, legal rights, and humane conditions, with reports of physical and psychological torture. Prison records often list causes of death as “old age” or “cardiac arrest,” but families insist these explanations conceal a more disturbing reality.
One such case is Abdur Rahman Mia, 81, vice-president of Chattogram’s North Agrabad Ward Awami League, who was suffering from lung cancer. His family claims he received no medical care in prison and that medicines sent by relatives never reached him. Former Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun is also alleged to have died after prolonged medical neglect.
The deaths have not been limited to senior leaders. In November 2024, six Awami League activists died in Bogura Jail within a short period. While prison authorities cited illness and heart attacks, families rejected the claims. In an interview with BBC Bangla, the son of one deceased detainee said his father had no history of heart disease and appeared healthy during their last meeting.
In another incident, Tarik Rifat, 55, finance secretary of a union Awami League unit, died just hours after being transferred to Gaibandha District Jail, raising serious questions about the circumstances of his death. In December 2025, Wasikur Rahman Babu, 43, youth and sports secretary of Badda Thana Awami League, died while being taken on remand from Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur. Authorities cited cardiac failure, but his family alleged he was tortured during transit.
Under Bangladesh’s existing laws, every custodial death is subject to mandatory judicial inquiry. However, families and rights groups say there has been no visible investigation into these recent cases. They allege that high-level directives are obstructing accountability, allowing the deaths to be quietly buried under official narratives.
As allegations continue to mount and investigations remain absent, critics warn that the cycle of deaths behind prison walls shows no sign of ending, raising serious concerns about human rights, rule of law, and the integrity of the justice system under the interim administration.
