The US Department of State came down heavily on the lack of freedom of expression in Bangladesh in its 45th annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

The report is an annual documentation of the state of human rights across the world and it acts as resource for its foreign policy.

"During the Covid-19 outbreak, the government widely used the Digital Security Act against persons questioning the government's handling of the pandemic," said the report released two days ago.

The DSA, it said, provides for sentences of up to 10 years' imprisonment for spreading "propaganda" against the Bangladesh Liberation War, the national anthem, or the national flag.

"Individuals faced the threat of being arrested, held in pretrial detention, subjected to expensive criminal trials, fines, and imprisonment," it said.

The report noted that the laws limit hate speech but that they did not define clearly what constitutes hate speech. This gives the government the scope for interpreting the law however it sees fit, noted the report.

"The government may restrict speech deemed to be against the security of the state; against friendly relations with foreign states; and against public order, decency, or morality; or which constitutes contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offense," it said.

The government also issued other restrictions on freedom of speech, the report added.

"On April 16, the Department of Nursing and Midwifery banned nurses from speaking to the press after the media reported the health sector's lack of preparation in managing Covid-19. On April 23, Health Minister Zahid Maleque banned all health officials from speaking to the media," the report documented.

"On October 13, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a press release restricting "false, fabricated, misleading and provocative statements" regarding the government, public representatives, army officers, police, and law enforcement through social media in the country and abroad," said the report.

The report pointed out that the ministry said in the interest of maintaining stability and law and order in the country, legal action would be taken against individuals who did not comply.

Without mentioning names, the report came down heavily on the prosecution of writer Mushtaque Ahmed, cartoonist Ahmed Kishore, and the others implicated in a DSA case.

Media accounts of a police case, involving 11 accused, detailed Rab's search of mobile phones of two accused and finding "anti-government" chats with other accused. "According to the police, these "anti-government" chats sufficed as evidence to charge and detain the individuals under the DSA," said the state department report.

The report continues on to say that media outlets that criticised the government were pressured by the government.

"Libel, slander, defamation, and blasphemy are treated as criminal offenses, most commonly employed against individuals speaking against the government, the prime minister, or other government officials," noted the report, adding that the law referring to defamation of individuals and organisations was used to prosecute opposition figures and members of civil society.

It documented the prosecution of Prof Sirajum Munira by Begum Rokeya University authorities and Prof Kazi Zahidur Rahman by Rajshahi University, under DSA.

It detailed that Munira was arrested for a Facebook post that the university authorities claimed mocked the late Mohammad Nasim, a former senior government official in the health ministry. "Although Munira apologised and deleted the post, police used a screenshot of the deleted post as evidence to arrest her," it added.

The report furthermore included how journalists faced targeted physical assaults during the pandemic.

"According to the RSF [Reporters Sans Frontières], 10 men beat journalist Shariful Alam Chowdhury with steel bars, machetes, and hammers. During the beating, Chowdhury's arms and legs were broken. Chowdhury's family told RSF they believed local village council authorities called for this attack," said the report.

The enforced disappearance of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol was also mentioned in the report as an exemplary incident of the violation of human rights.

"On March 10, photojournalist and news editor Shafiqul Islam Kajol disappeared after leaving his house for work. The previous day a member of parliament filed a case against Kajol and 31 others, claiming a media story covering a crime syndicate involving drugs, money, and prostitution defamed the member of parliament," said the report.

"On May 3, police in the border town Benapole confirmed to the press that Kajol was 'rescued' near the border with India and detained him on trespassing charges. Kajol's family told the press they believe Kajol was forcibly disappeared and held in government detention from March through May. Kajol spent 237 days in prison on defamation charges and was released on bail on December 25," it narrated.

Along with freedom of expression, media and press, the report also documented the increased, and arbitrary surveillance faced by citizens and journalists.

"Between March and September, the government became increasingly active in monitoring social media sites and other electronic communications in order to scan public discussions on Covid-19 and the government's handling of the virus. In March the information ministry announced the formation of a unit to monitor social media and television outlets for 'rumors' related to Covid-19," it said.

"Intelligence and law enforcement agencies may monitor private communications with the permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs, but police rarely obtained such permission from the courts to monitor private correspondence," added the report.

US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken while launching the report said, "The pandemic impacted not only individuals' health, but their abilities to safely enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Some governments used the crisis as a pretext to restrict rights and consolidate authoritarian rule.

"Human rights are interdependent, and the deprivation of one right can cause the broader fabric of a society to fray."