Chinese vloggers livestream from Dhaka slums while claiming to be in New Delhi
Investigations by Bangladeshi media say about 150 Chinese content creators have been filming in poor neighbourhoods of Dhaka and presenting the footage as scenes from India, prompting concerns over misinformation and privacy.
Bangladeshi outlets have reported that roughly 150 Chinese nationals are livestreaming from low-income areas of Dhaka, such as Tekpara and Uttara, while telling viewers the scenes are from New Delhi. The videos, posted on platforms including WeChat and Douyin, describe the neighbourhoods as "dirty, underdeveloped and unhygienic" and include claims that local tea is made from "cow urine".
One streamer identified as "Mianmian" introduced a canal-side location in Uttara's Sector 12 as New Delhi, saying, "Their homes are extremely dirty… the law-and-order situation is poor." Another, known as "Wang Wei", told viewers the tea sold at a local stall was "cow urine tea". A third participant, "Fangyou", said the broadcasts were part of a product-promotion effort but declined to explain the choice of location.
Earlier reports from May documented similar activity, noting that vloggers used iPhones with cooling fans for extended filming and that video titles frequently used words such as "poor" and "slum". Residents interviewed by several Bangladeshi newspapers said the vloggers repeatedly entered homes, shops and even private spaces without permission, causing discomfort and raising privacy concerns. Some local women were reported to assist the crews for daily fees ranging from Tk 500 to Tk 800.
Local police have confirmed the presence of Chinese nationals filming in Uttara but said the motive remains unclear and that senior authorities have been notified. The pattern of mislabeling Bangladeshi locations as Indian has led analysts to question whether the content forms part of a broader disinformation effort aimed at shaping Chinese audiences' perceptions of India.