Sajek empty of tourists amid blockade: after clashes and gunfire, 3,000 tourists return to Khagrachhari as business and transport stall

Sajek, the popular tourist destination in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati, is now empty of tourists. After clashes and gunfire over a road blockade, around 3,000 tourists returned from Sajek to Khagrachhari town on Thursday under security escort. With the administration's ban on tourist entry into Sajek until the situation normalises, business and transport sectors have ground to a halt.

The Sajek Ganadhikar Rakkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association have been observing a road blockade since October 11 with several demands, including the withdrawal of armed members. The programme was suspended from October 16 to 21 for Durga Puja, but resumed on October 22 amid allegations that the demands had not been met.

On Friday (October 23), the blockade programme continued for a second day, although no protesters were seen anywhere. Road communication between Sajek and Khagrachhari via Dighinala is nevertheless being disrupted because of the blockade.

On Thursday, as tourists were being escorted back to their destinations, clashes broke out between blockaders and law enforcement at Ujobazar in Sajek. An armed group later fired on tourists and security forces, and the security forces fired back in self-defence, it has been learnt.

Rangamati Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib said law enforcement personnel are patrolling various points in Sajek. The situation in Sajek is currently normal, he added.

Tourism stakeholders say the clashes and gunfire over the road blockade are having a negative impact on tourism. With tourist travel suspended under the administration's ban until the situation normalises, the entire tourism economy has stalled.

The Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners' Association said many establishments had advance bookings for Thursday and Friday. As tourists had to leave early and subsequent bookings were cancelled, fears of business losses have arisen.

With tourism shut, jeep drivers' incomes have also stopped completely. Sajek Transport Counter manager Md Arif said at least 100 to 150 tourist jeeps used to set out for Sajek every day. Because of the ban on tourism, no tourists can travel there at present.

Not only tourists and traders, but local residents are also suffering as road communication is disrupted. They are facing difficulties buying daily essentials and marketing agricultural produce, it has been learnt.

Jaten Tripura, owner of Kureghar Resort in Sajek Tourism Valley, said clashes between regional organisations occur in all three hill districts, but road blockades are not called anywhere else. He considers calling a road blockade centred on the Sajek tourist destination a ploy to damage the tourism sector. He demanded that the administration consider the matter seriously and take effective measures.

Matijoy Tripura, assistant general secretary of the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners' Association, said tourists had to leave Sajek because of the blockade and many cancelled advance resort bookings. When a road blockade is enforced in Sajek, not only tourists or traders but also local residents fall into extreme suffering and security concerns, he said, adding that buying food items and taking produced agricultural goods to market also stop.

Repeated blockades and shutdowns of tourism activities have left local traders, resort and cottage owners, jeep drivers and transport workers in trouble. Tourism is the sole source of income for many of them; with it closed, uncertainty has arisen over how to run their families.

The question now is when the blockade will be lifted and when the ban on tourist entry into Sajek will be withdrawn. Although the administration says the situation is normal, tourism stakeholders' anxiety has not eased while the blockade programme continues on the roads. The movement for demands, the security situation and the tourism economy — all three issues have become entangled around Sajek.