‘Little Bangladesh’ Braces for Impact Amid Los Angeles Wildfires

By Rimon Tanvir Hossain

LOS ANGELES, CA – As brush fires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst Fires, continue to burn thousands of acres across Los Angeles County, immigrant communities like Little Bangladesh are preparing for potential risks. Located in the Mid-City, Koreatown area, this densely populated neighborhood of over 15,000 Bangladeshi immigrants—designated as “Little Bangladesh” in 2010—is feeling the economic and emotional strain of the disaster.

With a population density of 42,611 people per square mile, Little Bangladesh relies on its small businesses, including six grocery stores, three restaurants, and two mosques. However, foot traffic has significantly decreased since the fires began. Mohammed Kawser Ali, owner of Sonar Bangla, a corner store near Masjid Al Falah, noted, “Very few people are coming; it hasn’t been the same since the fire.” Khurshid Alam, who runs Amar Bangla grocery and restaurant, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Few customers are coming. We’ve received notices for personal safety but no word from the city on small business support.”

Nazmul Chowdhury, owner of Deshi grocery, reported no major business impact yet but acknowledged the lack of city resources. “We have SNAP, EBT, and benefits active until February 2025, but no other assistance,” he said. Meanwhile, Asian Mart owner Hare Nath observed a sharp decline in customers, many of whom live in fire-affected neighborhoods. Nath lamented, “We’ve received no special notices for businesses, just Amber alerts to our phones.”

Restaurants like Kasturi are also struggling. Manager Mukul Mridha shared, “Usually, weekends are packed, but this weekend, hours passed without a single customer.”

The South Asian Network, a nonprofit with offices in Artesia and Little Bangladesh, has stepped in to distribute masks, fire safety fliers, and gather feedback from affected businesses. Executive Director Shakeel Syed urged city officials to allocate resources for economic recovery, stating, “The wildfires have deeply impacted South Asian small businesses.”

Despite these efforts, no formal evacuation plans or city support for businesses have been established. The lack of preparation highlights the long-term challenges faced by densely populated, working-class immigrant communities during natural disasters.