According to reports, Sen complained of illness around 9:10 AM and was immediately transported to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital’s emergency ward. Doctors pronounced him dead shortly after arrival. He had been detained since mid-August last year over multiple charges, one involving homicide.

Sen’s political career was illustrious: a five-time parliamentarian from Thakurgaon-1, he rose through the ranks after studying at Rangpur Carmichael College. His 2024 re-election was cut short by the dramatic fall of the Awami League government amid nationwide uprising.

This is not an isolated case. A string of custodial deaths involving Awami League affiliates has raised alarming questions about prison oversight and potential foul play. Human rights groups are urging independent probes, while the jail superintendent assured procedural compliance for body handover.

Public outrage is palpable, with protests erupting in Dinajpur and Dhaka. Social media is abuzz with claims of ‘extrajudicial targeting,’ putting pressure on the interim regime to address these grave concerns. As Bangladesh navigates its post-Hasina era, such incidents threaten to erode fragile democratic gains and prolong instability.

Experts call for reforms in custodial care and judicial processes to prevent future tragedies. Sen’s family mourns a dedicated leader whose contributions to water management and local development will be remembered, even as his death casts a long shadow over national politics.

During proceedings, the division bench highlighted Sengar’s extensive criminal antecedents, refusing to overlook them in a case of such severity. The matter stems from the 2017 Unnao outrage where Sengar was held guilty of abducting and sexually assaulting a teenage girl. Compounding the horror, the victim’s father died under suspicious circumstances while in custody, leading to Sengar’s additional conviction and a 10-year sentence.

Having spent over seven years in jail, Sengar argued for bail citing prolonged detention. However, the court countered that procedural delays were exacerbated by his repeated filings. It urged a swift resolution to his main appeal, signaling no leniency for serious offenders.

Recall the timeline: Trial court verdict in late 2019 imposed jail time and a Rs 25 lakh penalty, igniting public fury. A temporary bail in December was overturned by the Supreme Court on CBI’s intervention. Today’s order closes another chapter in Sengar’s bid for freedom.

The ruling reverberates beyond the courtroom, reinforcing accountability in gender-based crimes. Victims’ advocates hail it as a victory for rule of law, while the case continues to symbolize systemic challenges in delivering justice against politically connected accused.