Bangladeshi Businesses in France Hit by Curfew, Violence and Looting

Violence, vandalism and looting during protests across France over the rising cost of living, fuel prices and various socioeconomic demands have created a worrying situation. On Saturday, government buildings, shops and commercial establishments were attacked during demonstrations in several cities, affecting Bangladeshi expatriate business owners as well.

Preliminary reports suggest that at least 10 to 15 Bangladeshi-owned businesses in Paris and other parts of France were attacked, vandalised or looted. However, the actual number of affected businesses and the extent of the financial losses have yet to be independently verified.

Many of the affected entrepreneurs had taken bank loans to start their businesses. Years of hard work, savings and investment have been put at risk, leaving them deeply uncertain about the future. They are worried about reopening their businesses, repaying loan instalments and covering regular expenses, including employees’ salaries.

The affected Bangladeshi business owners are reportedly seeking adequate compensation and assistance from the government. They fear that the scale of the damage could make it difficult for many to recover financially.

Following the recent serious violence and riots, the situation in France was relatively calm last night. To restore order, curfews have been imposed in designated areas of Paris and several other cities. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has not ruled out declaring a state of emergency if necessary. He has also said that additional curfews may be imposed if the situation requires. For now, however, the government has opted for localised restrictions rather than a citywide curfew.

After an emergency meeting on Monday (October 19), Lecornu instructed local authorities to impose curfews in specific areas as needed. He said restoring public order and ensuring the safety of people and businesses were the government’s main priorities.

A curfew was imposed around Place de la République and the Les Halles area in Paris from 11pm local time until 6am on Tuesday (October 20). Demonstrations and gatherings were also prohibited in several parts of the capital from 8pm to 6am.

In the northern city of Lille and the neighbouring areas of Douai, Wattignies and Denain, curfews were announced for Monday and Tuesday nights, with restrictions scheduled to remain in effect from 8pm to 6am. A night-time curfew for minors was also imposed in central Nice in southern France. Restrictions were introduced in Lyon and other cities according to local conditions.

Amid the violence, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron rejected the offer. The Élysée Palace said Macron had asked Nuñez to remain in office to ensure continuity in the leadership of the security forces. The president also ordered a transparent review of shortcomings in intelligence gathering and security planning before the violence.

Nuñez acknowledged that police had lost control of the situation in several cities. He said security forces had not been adequately prepared to deal with the large number of looters and violent protesters. Authorities are now working to introduce new policing strategies and increase security deployments.

According to French authorities, around 2,400 people were arrested nationwide during the weekend protests and violence. Hundreds of police officers and gendarmes were injured. Business associations said nearly 3,000 businesses had been affected by looting and vandalism. Shops and government buildings were also attacked in several cities.

Meanwhile, Russia has warned that unrest spreading across Europe has brought the continent to the brink of chaos. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the unrest, which began in major French cities, had spread to Italy and other European countries, describing the situation as a serious crisis.

However, Mr Peskov also stressed that the matter was entirely an internal affair of European Union member states.

Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC