Meta Removes Ilias Hossain’s Second Facebook Account Over Incitement to Violence

Meta has removed the Facebook account of Bangladeshi journalist and online commentator Ilias Hossain after posts from his account allegedly encouraged supporters to attack the offices of prominent newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Both his personal profile and official page vanished from the platform late on Friday night.

Reports indicate that Ilias's account had nearly two million followers, and his page had more than 2.2 million followers. The removal follows violent attacks, vandalism, and arson at the Dhaka offices of the two newspapers, which occurred shortly after posts from Ilias's verified account late Thursday night, following the death of Osman Hadi, spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha. These posts allegedly urged people to move towards the media offices.

Meta has not yet issued an official statement regarding the removal, but online monitoring groups suggest the action aligns with the platform’s global policies against inciting violence. Ilias, currently based in the United States, has long been a polarizing figure in Bangladesh, with his content drawing both support for independent journalism and criticism for being inflammatory.

In response to growing concerns over violent content online, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has launched a direct reporting system for citizens to report social media posts that incite violence. Complaints can be filed via WhatsApp at 01308332592 or emailed to notify@ncsa.gov.bd. Authorities will review reports and forward verified cases to platforms.

While some users welcomed Meta’s action, others have raised concerns about freedom of speech, and the ongoing investigation into the attacks on the media offices continues.