Chinese Vloggers Scale Back Activities in Dhaka Amid Controversy

Chinese nationals in Dhaka have curtailed their activities after local law enforcement increased surveillance in response to accusations of filming impoverished neighborhoods and misrepresenting them as Indian locations. Following concerns raised by New Delhi, the Chinese vloggers were asked to justify their presence in Bangladesh on tourist visas. Reports indicate that their activities have significantly decreased, with local residents noting their absence in recent days. This situation raises questions about potential disinformation campaigns and the implications of foreign nationals operating in sensitive areas.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 12, 2026, 15:42 IST

Increased Surveillance Leads to Reduced Activities

File image shows a Chinese vlogger filming slum area and misrepresenting the visuals as India(Photo: X)

Dhaka, Nov 12: Following heightened scrutiny from local law enforcement, Chinese nationals accused of recording impoverished neighborhoods in Dhaka and misrepresenting them as Indian locales have significantly reduced their activities. This change comes after New Delhi expressed concerns about the use of Bangladeshi territory for defaming India.

According to Mohammad Khalid Mansur, the officer-in-charge at Uttara West Police Station, the presence of these vloggers has diminished due to police intervention, as reported by a local newspaper.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have intensified their monitoring of the Chinese individuals, keeping a close watch on their actions.

Reports indicate that approximately 150 Chinese nationals were active in areas like Tekpara and Uttara, streaming videos of narrow streets and low-income neighborhoods on Chinese social media platforms. They misrepresented various localities as being part of New Delhi and made derogatory comments about the residents' lifestyles.

The vloggers often filmed private homes and daily activities, sometimes entering residences without the occupants' knowledge, raising concerns about how the footage was being used.

This situation is suspected to be part of a larger disinformation strategy.

Previously, there was little oversight of their activities, with over a hundred vloggers reportedly creating content daily and compensating local citizens for their participation, according to the local media.

On November 10, India's Ministry of External Affairs demanded appropriate measures against the Chinese vloggers for spreading misleading narratives aimed at tarnishing India's image.

In response to the backlash, the Chinese nationals were required to present their passports and visas, explaining their activities while in Bangladesh on tourist visas.

They were also instructed to leave the country upon the expiration of their authorized stay, as per police reports.

It remains unclear whether any formal investigation has been launched regarding the actions of these Chinese nationals or if any penalties have been imposed for potential visa violations.

Local residents have noted a lack of sightings of Chinese nationals in the Uttara and Tekpara areas recently.

Md Selim, a Tekpara resident, mentioned, "I have been at home for two days due to illness. I have not seen any Chinese citizens coming."

Rickshaw puller Imamul Islam described a bridge near Sector 12 in Uttara as a "hideout" for the Chinese vloggers, stating, "They would videotape us all day and night. I haven't seen them for a while."