Awami League Decries Human Rights Abuse After Arrest Of 84-Year-Old Hindu Leader Ramesh Sen

The Awami League has slammed the Bangladesh police for arresting their 84-year-old Hindu party leader, Ramesh Chandra Sen. His arrest came in the wake of weeks of political upheaval triggered by the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the country’s former prime minister and Awami League chief.

Sen’s arrest came days after the apprehension of Hasina’s adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Huq. 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.

A slew of arrests has been made as rights groups in Bangladesh call 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 interim 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.