Chinese Vloggers Reduce Dhaka Filming After Official Pressure

Chinese vloggers who allegedly recorded impoverished neighbourhoods in Dhaka and livestreamed the footage as scenes from New Delhi have reduced their operations. The change follows increased monitoring by Bangladeshi police and intelligence agencies after a call for action from India.

Surveillance and Local Impact

Local residents estimated that upwards of 150 Chinese nationals had been active in areas such as Uttara and Tekpara. Witnesses stated that the vloggers recorded narrow streets, homes, and everyday commuter activities, sometimes entering residential premises without permission. Residents remained unaware of how they were being portrayed online. Rickshaw puller Imamul Islam noted that a bridge near Sector 12 in Uttara served as a frequent gathering spot, though he had not seen the vloggers recently.

Official Responses and Visa Checks

Mohammad Khalid Mansur, officer-in-charge of the Uttara West Police Station, stated that law enforcement intervention led to a decrease in the vloggers' activities. Authorities directed the Chinese nationals to present their passports and visas, and instructed them to depart Bangladesh once their authorized stay expires. It remains uncertain whether formal investigations or penalties regarding visa violations have been initiated.

Disinformation Concerns

The broadcasts drew attention after India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described efforts to present a distorted picture of any country as unfortunate on November 10, urging authorities to take action against the peddling of false narratives. The activities have sparked suspicion of a coordinated disinformation campaign, though the underlying purpose and whether the participants acted collectively remain unconfirmed.