’10 years of work destroyed’: Bangladeshi shopkeeper’s Paris business looted

Hassan a Bangladeshi businessman watched helplessly on his phone as around 30 people looted the technology and courier shop he had spent nearly a decade building in Paris, after he was forced to flee amid threats of physical violence.

“They attacked me physically and threatened to break a wine bottle on my head. I was forced to abandon my business,” Hassan told Euronews.

Hassan, a father of three, moved to France in 2010 and worked in hospitality for several years before opening the shop with a business partner in 2016. Located near Place de la République, the business was among those hit during the violence that swept parts of Paris on 17 October, reports Euronews.

“About 10 years ago, we built this place up gradually, bit by bit,” he said. “This was once my workspace, but now there’s nothing there. I have not slept since it all happened.”

Hassan had closed the shop on Saturday afternoon following advice from French authorities. Hours later, he checked his security camera app and saw around 30 people inside.

“I thought, how is this possible?” he said.

He rushed back but police initially denied him access to the cordoned-off area because of the ongoing violence. They eventually let him through after he showed them footage of the looting.

By then, the shop had been ransacked. Smashed phones, empty delivery parcels and broken glass covered the floor, while the basement storeroom had also been looted. Some people passed stolen goods through the smashed storefront as others remained outside.

Hassan said the looters included young people, some of whom appeared to be around 15 years old. Euronews also obtained footage of people breaking into an adjacent apartment building, where one of the shop’s entrances is located. Residents pleaded with them to stop but feared for their own safety.

With an insurance assessment still pending, Hassan cannot clear the wreckage. Rent, utility bills and employee wages, however, continue to accumulate.

A local courier worker who had delivered many of the stolen parcels told Euronews that some businesses had suffered even greater damage.

“We just want to make a living and do our job with honesty. Others want to destroy everything,” he said.

Across the road, an Intermarché supermarket remained closed after being looted, with workers cleaning up broken glass and restocking shelves.

Local worker Noam has launched an online fundraiser to help Hassan, attracting thousands in donations, according to Euronews.

“We know Hassan because he helps us with deliveries and other tasks regularly,” Noam said, adding that people in the community wanted to help him recover.

The looting came amid weeks of largely peaceful student protests in France over deteriorating conditions in schools. Demonstrations on Saturday also involved trade unions and Yellow Vest activists, but looting and clashes with police overshadowed many of the marches.

The French government has announced emergency financial assistance and other support for affected businesses. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said businesses hit by the unrest would be able to use France’s state-funded partial unemployment scheme, known as activité partielle, from Tuesday.

Human rights organisations have accused law enforcement of excessive force against protesters, criticising the use of rubber-bullet launchers, known as LBDs, and stun grenades over injuries they say the weapons have caused.

Authorities have tightened security ahead of further protests scheduled for 24 October. Curfews have been imposed in some areas, and the government has announced military deployment alongside police to maintain public order.