Nine-day Sajek road blockade to be relaxed for one day on Sunday, indefinite programme resumes the next day
The indefinite blockade running for nine consecutive days on the Sajek tourist road in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati will be kept relaxed for one day next Sunday (1 November), the Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association have announced.
The two organisations said the decision was taken considering the basic needs of the general people of the area. However, the indefinite blockade programme will continue as before after Sunday.
The information was given in a press release sent to the media on Friday (30 October). Babudhan Chakma and Notun Joy Chakma signed the release on behalf of the Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association.
The release said the decision was taken to keep the road blockade relaxed for one day on 1 November considering the basic needs of the general public. But the relaxation is temporary; after Sunday, the previously announced indefinite road blockade programme will resume.
The two organisations also considered the smooth observance of Kathin Chibar Dana, a religious festival of Buddhists. The release said special relaxation, subject to discussion, will be arranged for Buddhists so the festival can be held properly, and the concerned religious institutions and Buddhist vihara authorities have been requested to contact the blockading organisations.
As part of a programme to realise various demands including a three-point demand, the third phase of the indefinite blockade has been running on the Sajek road since 22 October. It has disrupted road communication with Sajek as well as the tourism business, local people's travel and the supply of daily essentials, causing suffering. Concern has also arisen over food and medicine supplies for local residents because of the blockade.
The Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association began their movement on 11 October demanding the withdrawal of armed members of the Santu Larma-led JSS from the Sajek area, security for local residents and implementation of assurances given by the administration. After suspending the movement from 16 to 21 October for Durga Puja, the two organisations called the indefinite road blockade again from 22 October as their demands were not met.
On the first day of the blockade, 2,933 tourists were stranded in Sajek Valley. On Thursday morning (22 October), the Bangladesh Army and police escorted a convoy of tourist vehicles from Sajek towards Khagrachhari.
When the convoy of tourists and security forces reached the Ujobazar area of Sajek at about 10:30 that morning, protesters and picketers blocked their way by setting up barricades and burning tyres on the road. Tension arose when the blockaders refused to clear the way despite long discussions. That day, tension, clashes and gunfire took place on the Sajek tourist road involving law enforcement, the blockaders and the two organisations.
While the one-day relaxation gives local people some opportunity to meet daily needs, the decision to continue the programme from the next day means uncertainty over Sajek's normal communications and tourism activities is not going away.
