India protests Chinese influencers misrepresenting Dhaka as New Delhi

India’s external affairs ministry said it had become aware of Chinese vloggers and influencers filming in the Uttara and Tekpara districts of Dhaka and presenting the videos as if they were recorded in New Delhi. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the practice a distortion of facts and urged relevant authorities to take action against those responsible.

Sources familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous, said anti-India content on China-based platforms has increased in recent months, coinciding with a surge in visa applications from Chinese influencers seeking entry to India, most of which were rejected. One source suggested the vloggers may have turned to Bangladesh after being denied Indian visas.

According to a report by Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo, more than 150 Chinese nationals have been filming and livestreaming in the densely populated areas of Uttara and Tekpara for several months, sometimes employing local guides. The report noted that the livestreams often claim the location is New Delhi, despite clear visual evidence to the contrary. During a livestream on November 1, a Chinese participant described the Dhaka neighbourhood as “underdeveloped, dirty and unhygienic” and criticized local law-and-order conditions.

The incident occurs as India and China continue diplomatic efforts to normalise relations following an agreement in October 2024 to end a prolonged military standoff in Ladakh.