'This is New Delhi': Chinese streamers film Dhaka neighbourhoods, misrepresent locations in livestreams

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A group of Chinese nationals has allegedly been livestreaming from low-income neighbourhoods in Dhaka for months while presenting the locations as parts of New Delhi, India, and making disparaging remarks about residents, according to an investigation by Bangladesh daily Prothom Alo.

An estimated 150 Chinese nationals have been filming in Sector 12 of Uttara and the adjoining Tekpara area. Carrying two mobile phones each, they reportedly walk through residential lanes, markets and neighbourhoods, using one device to livestream and the other to follow information displayed on its screen.

The broadcasts, which reportedly run from morning until late at night, have left residents questioning where the footage is published and how it is presented to viewers.

An examination of the livestreams, whose Chinese-language commentary was translated using Google Translate and verified by four Bangladeshis familiar with the language, reportedly revealed that the streamers were identifying locations in Dhaka as parts of New Delhi.

One streamer, identified as Mianmian, was broadcasting beside a canal in Uttara's Sector 12 on November 1. Introducing herself as being from China's Sichuan province, she allegedly told viewers: "This is New Delhi. Their homes are extremely dirty. There isn't even a fan inside the tin-roofed houses."

She also described the neighbourhood as underdeveloped, unhygienic and having poor law and order, as cited in the report by Prothom Alo.

Another streamer, identified as Wang Wei, was filming at tea stalls near a small bridge in Tekpara. During his livestream, he allegedly told viewers that the tea consumed by local residents was made from cow urine.

"Look, they are drinking tea. Do you know what kind of tea this is? This is cow urine tea. They drink cow urine tea," he said, according to the translated commentary cited by Prothom Alo.

He also claimed that the tea was prepared using dirty river water and described the residents' lifestyle as unhygienic.

Some streamers reportedly made derogatory remarks about Bangladeshi men and their spending habits.

However, not all the broadcasts were negative.

A Chinese national identified as Li Yang highlighted air conditioners installed in buildings, pointing out that many were Chinese-made and asking viewers to identify their brands for a prize.

The investigation found that some Bangladeshi women were working as guides for the Chinese nationals, helping them navigate the neighbourhood and communicate with residents.

One such guide, Ritu Akhter, told Prothom Alo that she had been working with the group for several months and earned between Tk 700 and Tk 800 a day.

According to Akhter, the streamers earned money by publishing videos on Chinese platforms such as WeChat and Douyin, as well as other online platforms. She said they were particularly interested in filming neighbourhoods inhabited by low-income communities.

According to a Chinese national identified as Fangyou, cited in the report, the group livestreamed on WeChat as part of product promotion activities. However, he refused to explain why they had selected the particular locality or why they broadcast for such long hours.

The filming has also triggered complaints about intrusion into private spaces. Residents alleged that some Chinese nationals enter homes and record videos without permission.

Akram Hossain, a Tekpara resident, told Prothom Alo that the filming had continued for months, with streamers appearing in the neighbourhood throughout the day.

"It would be understandable if this were just a matter of a day or two. But they (the Chinese nationals) have been making these videos for months," he said, adding that residents had no idea what happened to the recordings.

Another resident, Rozina Khatun, alleged that streamers sometimes walked into homes and started recording without considering whether occupants were appropriately dressed.

Papia Begum claimed that some even entered bathrooms while filming. She said residents' objections often prompted the streamers to apologise and leave, only for them to return later.

Despite complaints, local residents say there has been little intervention. Police personnel in the area acknowledged seeing Chinese nationals filming across Uttara but said they had been unable to establish the purpose of the activity, partly because of language barriers.

Mohammad Khalid Mansur, officer-in-charge of Uttara West Police Station, told Prothom Alo: "I actually don't know why they make these videos. I don't know where the videos are screened either."

He added that he had informed senior authorities about the filming and that work was underway on the matter.