"Freedom of movement and due process are human and civil rights essential to any democracy. The recent actions taken by the caretaker government raise serious questions about respect for the rule of law and the future of representative democracy in Bangladesh," Brown said in a letter to Rice, dated June 29.

Regarding the crackdown on corruption, she stated, "While I recognize that Bangladesh is trying to address endemic corruption, the blatant disregard for due process and basic freedoms is an unacceptable deviation from democratic norms and rule of law."

"One extreme example is the effort against Sheikh Hasina," she said.

The Congresswomen, who is from Florida, also mentioned in the letter that Sheikh Hasina's daughter, who is due to give birth soon, lives in her state.

"I write to express my strong concern over recent developments in Bangladesh, including the abrogation of civil liberties and abuse of human rights under the current military-backed caretaker government," Brown said.

"I am extremely troubled by the mass arrests of over 200,000 people, including the detainment of 170 senior political leaders, along with ongoing extra-judicial killings and torture," she added.