Dhaka, Feb. 7 -- Veteran politician Ramesh Chandra Sen, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Awami League and former Minister of Water Resources, died on Saturday morning while in custody at Dinajpur District Jail, officials and local reports confirmed.

His death, coming just days before the nation's scheduled general election on February 12, 2026, has intensified scrutiny of the treatment of detained politicians and accusations of custodial neglect.

Sen, 83, fell ill inside the jail early Saturday and was rushed to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at approximately 9:29 am (local time), according to Dinajpur jail authorities. Jail Superintendent Farhad Sarkar told reporters that Sen's body will be released...