Fresh protests called in France as Bangladeshi expatriates' shops are vandalised and looted

Fresh protests have been called in France, and amid the unrest, shops belonging to Bangladeshi expatriates have also been vandalised and looted, leaving traders fearful for their businesses.

According to the expatriate traders, some shops came under attack during the protests. Alongside vandalism, there were incidents of looting, leaving many business owners worried about the safety of their shops and their capital.

Facing the renewed call for protests, the French authorities have taken major security preparations. A decision has been taken to deploy 70,000 police officers to handle the situation.

Questions are being asked about the continuing unrest centred on Paris — when the conflict between two generations in the capital, which has featured in public discussion, will finally end. The new protest call has brought that question back to the fore.

For Bangladeshi traders, this unrest is directly a question of livelihood. When a shop is vandalised, the loss is not only immediate; the cost of repairs and restocking also falls on their shoulders. Many are therefore hesitant even about keeping their shops open.

The unrest is not limited to France. In neighbouring Germany, protest calls have also spread, with demonstrations called in 21 German cities, pointing to wider instability across Europe.

The scale of the French police deployment decision shows the authorities are treating the situation seriously. With 70,000 officers on the ground, protest days are expected to see a heavy security presence in the cities.

Bangladeshi expatriates have experienced shop damage during unrest in European cities in the past as well. That same fear is haunting them again, particularly in areas where protests are expected to be concentrated.

Another reason for the traders' fear is uncertainty — how long the protests will last and where they will spread cannot be known in advance. Running a daily business amid that uncertainty has become difficult.

Attention will now be on the ground situation during the protest days in France — whether the police preparations can prevent violence, and whether the shops of all traders, including Bangladeshi expatriates, remain safe.