India on Tuesday strongly criticised reports of Chinese livestreamers filming impoverished neighbourhoods in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and presenting the footage as scenes from New Delhi, describing the alleged misrepresentation as an attempt to spread false narratives about the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said such activities were unfortunate and undermined the credibility of those involved, while urging the authorities concerned to take action against people responsible for spreading misleading content.
The controversy emerged following investigations by Bangladeshi media outlets that documented Chinese nationals livestreaming from low-income neighbourhoods in Dhaka while allegedly identifying the locations as parts of India's national capital.
Responding to questions at his regular media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government had taken note of the reports.
"We have seen media reports in this regard. Such efforts to present a distorted picture of any country are unfortunate," Jaiswal said.
Referring to the alleged portrayal of Dhaka as Delhi, he said spreading false narratives only damaged the credibility of those undertaking such activities and those behind them.
He urged the authorities concerned to take action against the individuals involved.
๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ต๐ถ
The controversy centres on videos recorded in Dhaka's Uttara and Tekpara neighbourhoods, where Chinese content creators were reportedly seen broadcasting footage of narrow lanes, modest houses, roadside stalls and densely populated residential areas.
An investigation published by Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo on November 6 found that some livestreamers were identifying these locations as New Delhi while making disparaging remarks about sanitation, housing and living conditions.
The broadcasts were reportedly shared through Chinese social media platforms, including Douyin and WeChat.
One livestreamer, identified as Mianmian and reportedly from China's Sichuan province, was seen recording beside a canal in Uttara's Sector 12 on November 1.
According to the investigation, she introduced the neighbourhood to viewers as New Delhi and described the surrounding houses as dirty, underdeveloped and unhygienic.
Another Chinese national, identified as Wang Wei, was reportedly filmed broadcasting from tea stalls in Tekpara.
During the livestream, he allegedly made derogatory claims about the tea consumed by local residents, including that it was prepared using cow urine.
The reports raised concerns that footage from Bangladesh was being used to create misleading impressions about living conditions in India.
๐๐ถ๐น๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐
The activity was reportedly not limited to isolated broadcasts.
Earlier investigations by Bangladeshi media outlets indicated that Chinese vloggers had been recording videos in densely populated neighbourhoods of Dhaka for several months.
In May, The Business Standard reported that Chinese nationals were frequently filming in Tekpara, sometimes using mobile phones equipped with cooling fans to support prolonged livestreaming sessions.
Local residents also reportedly expressed discomfort over repeated filming in residential neighbourhoods.
Some alleged that content creators entered homes and private spaces without obtaining permission, raising additional concerns about privacy and consent.
Bangladeshi media reports suggested that local guides were assisting some of the Chinese nationals during their visits.
One guide reportedly said she earned between 700 and 800 Bangladeshi taka daily for accompanying the visitors.
๐ค๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ด๐ป
The repeated portrayal of Bangladeshi locations as Indian neighbourhoods has raised questions about whether the livestreams form part of a broader effort to influence perceptions of India among Chinese audiences.
Some reports have suggested that approximately 150 Chinese nationals were involved in filming activities in Dhaka. However, the figure has not been independently verified.
The purpose of the broadcasts also remains unclear.
One Chinese livestreamer reportedly told Bangladeshi journalists that the videos were connected to product-promotion activities.
However, the investigations did not establish who had commissioned the broadcasts or whether the content creators were acting together as part of an organised campaign.
The distinction between documenting poverty and deliberately misidentifying a location has become central to the controversy.
While foreign content creators have frequently filmed economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods across South Asia, presenting footage from one country as scenes from another can mislead viewers about the social and economic conditions being depicted.
India's response signals concern over the potential misuse of online platforms to circulate misleading narratives about the country.
The MEA has called for action against those responsible, although no specific enforcement measures or formal proceedings have been announced.