Chinese vloggers livestream from Dhaka slums, falsely claim footage is from India: reports

Around 150 Chinese nationals have been livestreaming from poor neighbourhoods in Dhaka, passing off the footage as scenes from New Delhi and making disparaging remarks about Indian living conditions, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

An investigation published by Prothom Alo on November 6 found that Chinese vloggers had been filming in Uttara's Sector 12 and Tekpara, broadcasting on Chinese platforms such as WeChat and Douyin.

One streamer, identified as Mianmian, introduced Uttara as New Delhi and described its homes as dirty, underdeveloped and unhygienic.

Another, identified as Wang Wei, claimed that tea consumed by local residents was made from "cow urine" and dirty river water.

The investigation also found that some vloggers claimed to have married in India and were living there with their families.

The activity has reportedly been continuing for several months.

An earlier report by The Business Standard in May documented Chinese nationals filming in Dhaka's low-income neighbourhoods, with videos carrying titles featuring words such as "poor", "dirty" and "slum".

Residents have also raised concerns over privacy, alleging that some vloggers entered homes, kitchens and even bathrooms without permission to record footage.

Local women were reportedly assisting the vloggers for payments ranging from Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 a day. One streamer reportedly told Prothom Alo that the broadcasts were part of product-promotion activities targeting Chinese audiences.

The purpose of the videos, however, remains unclear.

Police in Uttara said they were aware of the filming and had informed senior authorities.