Distance proved no barrier to destruction. Two Bangladeshi activists abroad harnessed Facebook’s vast reach to direct mobs against Dhaka’s press and cultural pillars, according to an in-depth report laying bare the mechanics of their remote provocation.
Elias Hussain’s December 18, 2025, post from New York targeted Prothom Alo viciously. Verified status and 2.2 million followers propelled it virally, spawning rapid violence at the newspaper’s headquarters. Partner Pinaki Bhattacharya in Paris helped orchestrate hits on The Daily Star, Chhayanaut, and more.
This isn’t isolated provocation. For a year, they’ve hammered these targets online, alleging collusion with Indian intelligence to poison public discourse. Their February 5 climax: demolishing Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi residence amid her live broadcast, with relentless videos fueling the flames.
Experts flag this as pioneering digital terror—social algorithms assembling crowds beyond borders, outpacing government response. Northeast News, citing Boomlive, reports rioters at the Prothom Alo blaze demanding Hussain-Bhattacharya leadership, backed by their official networks.
Bangladesh’s turmoil deepened after Yunus’s August 2024 interim takeover: journalist beatings, mob rule, lawlessness. The report demands action against such hybrid threats, where expatriate voices wield domestic dynamite.