Ramesh Chandra Sen, former water resource minister and also former lawmaker from Thakurgaon-1 constituency, was detained by law enforcement authorities from his ancestral home in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila Friday night.
A special team from Dhaka reportedly picked him around 10:30pm on Friday, acting on information from undisclosed sources. The information was confirmed by his wife Banalata Devi.
Banalata Devi said that her husband was preparing to take his medication after dinner when plainclothes officers entered their home and instructed him to get ready to leave.
After first taking him to the Thakurgaon Superintendent of Police's office, the special team transported him to Dhaka around 1am.
Ramesh Chandra Sen, who previously served as minister of food and water resources, has held various key positions within the Awami League, including presidium member, advisory council member, and most recently, a member of the Central Election Board.
He has been elected to parliament five times from the Thakurgaon-1 constituency, often contesting against BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. However, the last three elections were marred by controversy and allegations of voter suppression.
Sen has also faced widespread accusations of corruption, particularly related to recruitment practices, with allegations involving hundreds of crores of taka. News of his arrest has sparked both joy and excitement in some quarters.
While no official confirmation of his arrest has been provided by the authorities, photos and videos of the incident circulated on social media have convinced many of its authenticity.
Media personnel gathered at the offices of the superintendent of police and the Sadar police station, hoping for a briefing, but as of 2am, no official statements had been made.
