Bangladeshi Shops Looted in France Protest Violence: One Trader Loses €90,000 in Goods as Expatriates Live in Fear
Amid protests in France over the rising cost of living, widespread vandalism and looting struck various establishments last week. Several businesses owned by Bangladeshi expatriates in Paris were also damaged. With fears of fresh violence, Bangladeshi traders and ordinary expatriates are now anxious about business and safety. The French government has announced the deployment of around 70,000 police and gendarmerie members across the country on Saturday to handle the situation.
During last week's protests, the mobile phone accessories and electronics shop of a Bangladeshi expatriate businessman named Hasan in Paris was extensively vandalised and looted. The affected businessman said his shop held goods worth about 90,000 euros, all of which were looted, leaving him facing a major financial loss.
Bangladeshi expatriates involved in money transfer and money exchange businesses in different parts of Paris are also deeply worried. Bangladeshi entrepreneurs running small outlets for financial service providers such as Ria and MoneyGram fear their shops could be targeted if street violence erupts again, noting that such financial transaction outlets have been looted more during past movements.
According to the Paris city authorities, 451 shops were vandalised in Paris alone by October 21 in the violence of October 17 and 18. The French government estimates that several thousand businesses across the country have been damaged. The overall number of damaged Bangladeshi-owned businesses has not yet been officially confirmed.
Elan Khan Chowdhury, owner of Union Mart in Paris, said business and trade have stagnated in the ongoing unrest and fear has grown among traders about the safety of their shops. He expressed hope that the situation would normalise quickly and calm would return to public life.
Alongside traders, ordinary expatriate workers have also fallen into uncertainty. Monir Hossain, who works in food delivery in Paris, said the disruption surrounding the movement is causing them extreme hardship in delivering food and they live in constant fear about safety.
In this situation, the risks have grown further for expatriates without regular valid papers. A daily-wage worker in Paris said police strictness and document checks all around have made it difficult even to go out to work.
Students, the CGT labour union and Yellow Vest activists are protesting in France out of discontent over the rising cost of living, fuel price increases and various problems in educational institutions. Against the backdrop of last week's violence, arson and clashes, maximum precautionary measures have been taken ahead of Saturday's protests.
Meanwhile, on Friday, one person was killed and four wounded in a shooting in the Trappes and La Verrière areas in western Paris. Anti-terror authorities are investigating the incident, but whether it has any direct link to the ongoing protests has not yet been confirmed. For safety, authorities have announced that Paris's world-famous Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais will remain closed to visitors on Saturday.
Local business organisations in France have taken initiatives to stand beside the traders damaged by the violence. The French Federation of Commerce Associations has begun collecting information on damaged businesses and a support process, while the Confederation of French Commerce has expressed solidarity with affected traders and workers. The Paris and Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry is helping damaged traders prepare insurance papers, compensation applications and administrative support.
French government support includes the state bearing the cost of partial unemployment allowances for workers under certain conditions, extending deadlines for paying taxes and social contributions, interest-free loans of up to 50,000 euros, and a special fund for eligible small businesses. Those concerned say Bangladeshi business organisations and community leaders in France must take coordinated initiatives so expatriate entrepreneurs can easily access this legal and financial support from local authorities.
Paris authorities have taken several precautionary measures ahead of Saturday's protests. People have been asked to exercise caution in moving around central Paris, especially in the Bastille, République, Nation and Les Halles areas. Those who must go out for work have been advised to check the latest public transport information and police instructions before travelling. There are also calls to avoid protest centres and large gatherings except in emergencies, and for foreign nationals living in France to carry proof of valid papers.
Warnings have also been issued against buying or selling any goods looted during the protests. Under the French penal code, buying, keeping or selling criminally obtained or stolen goods is a serious offence, punishable on conviction by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 375,000 euros. It now depends on Saturday's situation when Paris's Bangladeshi traders can overcome their fear and return to normal business.
