Dhaka, April 1 -- The U.S Department of State has expressed deep concern about the use of the Digital Security Act (DSA) in Bangladesh and said freedom of expression is an essential element of democracy and is especially important in an election year.

Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson of United States said this, during the Department's press briefing on Thursday.

Replying to a question about the picking up of Prothom Alo journalist Samsuzzaman Shams and subsequent incident of filing DSA cases against him and Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and recent attack on brother of a journalist working for Al Jazeera

"We remain deeply concerned about the Bangladesh government's use of the Digital Security Act. And freedom of expression...