Dhaka, Nov 13:
Mohammad Khalid Mansur, officer-in-charge of Uttara West Police Station, confirmed that the activities of the Chinese vloggers had declined after law enforcement agencies intervened, according to a report published by Prothom Alo on Thursday.
He said security agencies had intensified surveillance of the Chinese nationals and were keeping a close watch on their movements and activities.
Bangladeshi media reports suggest that nearly 150 Chinese nationals had been operating in the Tekpara and Uttara areas of Dhaka. They allegedly livestreamed videos of congested streets and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods on Chinese social media platforms, falsely identifying the locations as parts of New Delhi and making derogatory comments about the living conditions of residents.
The videos reportedly included footage of local houses, residents and their everyday activities. In some instances, the vloggers allegedly entered residential premises and recorded footage without informing occupants about its intended use or how the people featured would be portrayed online.
The activities have raised suspicions of a possible organised disinformation operation. The Prothom Alo report alleged that the vloggers had initially operated without police scrutiny and that more than 100 individuals were producing such videos daily. It also claimed that some Bangladeshi residents had been paid to assist them.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs raised the issue on November 10, urging Bangladesh to take appropriate action against the Chinese nationals for spreading what it described as false narratives intended to malign India.
Following the controversy, Bangladeshi authorities reportedly asked the vloggers to submit their passports and visas and explain their activities, particularly since they had entered the country on tourist visas.
Police officials also reportedly instructed them to leave Bangladesh once their authorised period of stay ended. However, it remains unclear whether a formal investigation has been launched or whether any legal proceedings have been initiated over possible violations of visa regulations.
Residents of Uttara and Tekpara said they had not noticed the presence of the Chinese nationals in their neighbourhoods in recent days.