The Documentary Podcast Bangladeshi newspapers attacked by mob
Mar 21, 2026
Soutik Biswas, BBC correspondent who reported from Dhaka on violent attacks against two major newspapers. Sunwook Lee, BBC Korean reporter covering BTS and the Hallyu phenomenon. They discuss the mob attacks, rooftop rescues, destroyed archives and fragile press freedoms in Bangladesh. They also explore BTS’s return, ticket frenzy, military service debate and national pride around Hallyu.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Journalists Sheltered On The Roof After Midnight Attack
- Journalists at The Daily Star finished work despite threats on Facebook and then discovered a mob was approaching their building late at night.
- Reporter Zyma Islam filed her story near midnight, stayed to leave with colleagues, and they later climbed to the roof when the mob breached the reception.
Facebook Fueled Rapid Mobilisation In Dhaka
- Facebook was a primary platform for organising and spreading warnings about the attack, with many Bangladeshis using it as a go-to news source.
- About 50 million people in Bangladesh use Facebook, amplifying rumours and calls that helped mobilise mobs quickly.
Demoralised Security Forces Allowed The Mob To Succeed
- The security forces were demoralised after recent nationwide unrest, undermining their ability to prevent mob attacks.
- Following the July 24 uprising and alleged police shootings, police morale collapsed and law and order failed during the December assaults.