LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — Thousands of acres burned through Los Angeles County as wildfires spread into the cities with multiple major brush fires: Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst Fires. Immigrant communities, such as Little Bangladesh, have felt a severe economic and emotional strain. The densely populated neighborhood of over 15,000 Bangladeshi immigrants is located in Mid-City, Koreatown. Its small businesses suffered from a notable decrease in foot traffic.
Little Bangladesh, named so in 2010, is a close-knit community that heavily relies on local businesses. Six grocery stores, three restaurants, and two mosques are among the businesses. However, since the fires started, many business owners say that very few customers are coming. Sonar Bangla owner Mohammed Kawser Ali said, “Very few people are coming; it hasn’t been the same since the fire.”
Other business people, such as Khurshid Alam at Amar Bangla grocery and restaurant, have claimed that the cities have not addressed their needs appropriately. “They’ve sent over personal safety but nothing from the city on this small business concern,” Alam claims.
Local businesses are feeling the pressure with no formal evacuation plans or dedicated aid in sight. Nazmul Chowdhury of Deshi Grocery and Hare Nath of Asian Mart have echoed concerns over the absence of resources for the immigrant community. Mukul Mridha, manager of Kasturi restaurant, stated that the usual busy weekends have seen no customers, intensifying the hardship.
The nonprofit South Asian Network, based in Little Bangladesh, has taken action, handing out masks and fire safety materials to affected businesses. Executive Director Shakeel Syed called on city officials to provide economic recovery resources for businesses struggling in the wake of the fire.
