US State Department has called on Bangladesh to conduct a transparent investigation into the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed and uphold the right of freedom of expression.

"We are concerned by Bangladeshi writer Mushtaq Ahmed's death in custody while detained under the Digital Security Act," US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price tweeted today, a day after 13 heads of foreign missions in Dhaka issued a joint statement on the issue. "We call on the Government of Bangladesh to conduct a transparent investigation and for all countries to uphold the right of freedom of expression."

Ahmed had been held in pre-trial detention since May 5, 2020, under the provisions of the Digital Security Act (DSA). He was denied bail six times and died on February 25, triggering protests from all walks of life in demand of revoking the DSA.