4 weeks ago
Last Updated: August 19, 2024, 12:34 IST
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Police detains a man who was not leaving the University of Dhaka premises in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 17, 2024. (Reuters)
Ramesh Chandra Sen was jailed after a student’s case under the Explosives Substances Act. Court orders detention in Thakurgaon
Bangladesh’s Awami League has strongly criticized the police for arresting their 84-year-old Hindu party leader, Ramesh Chandra Sen. His arrest came amid a political churn in the country after Sheikh Hasina, the country’s former prime minister and Awami League chief, was ousted from power earlier this month.
Sen, a former water resources minister under long-time Prime Minister Hasina, was taken into custody on Friday night from his home in northern Bangladesh. He has been charged under the Explosive Substances Act, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
“#Bangladesh Police have arrested a #Hindu leader of #AwamiLeague and put him on a farcical trial. Ramesh Chandra Sen, an octogenarian, was arrested from his house in #Thakurgaon who was having his dinner. Surprisingly, he hails from #MirzaFakhrul’s constituency,” the Awami League said in a post on X.
This arrest comes as the minority rights movement in Bangladesh has called for the creation of a minority commission to investigate recent attacks on Hindu homes and places of worship nationwide. On Sunday, a six-member delegation met with interem leader Muhammad Yunus to present their demands.
The group is seeking justice for the attacks on minority properties and measures to ensure the protection of the Hindu community. According to local media reports, Sen was having dinner when plainclothes officers arrived at his home and instructed him to prepare to leave. After his detention, Sen was first taken to the Thakurgaon Superintendent of Police’s office before being transported to Dhaka.
He has been a prominent figure in the Awami League, having served in various key positions, including presidium member and member of the Central Election Board. He has been elected to parliament five times, often contesting against BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. According to the Dhaka-based newspaper, Sen’s political career has been marred by claims of graft and voter suppression.
The Awami League has condemned the arrest, describing it as a violation of human rights and labeling the trial as “farcical.” The arrest has elicited mixed reactions, with some expressing joy over the news while others view it as a politically motivated attack against a long-standing party member.
