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Sajek road blockade relaxed for Durga Puja
Published : Thursday, 15 October, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Observer Online Report
Blockaders have temporarily eased the indefinite road blockade on the Sajek route in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati until October 21 to mark the upcoming Hindu festival of Durga Puja.
However, the travel restriction imposed by the district administration prohibiting tourists from visiting Sajek Valley remains in effect.
The decision to ease the blockade was announced through a joint statement issued on Thursday (October 15) by the Sajek Gono Odhikar Rakkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association. The statement noted that the blockade on the Sajek road would be relaxed until October 21 to facilitate the celebration of Durga Puja.
Earlier, an indefinite road blockade was enforced for the second phase starting October 11, stranding thousands of domestic and foreign tourists in Sajek. When a special security convoy organized by the Bangladesh Army attempted to evacuate the stranded tourists, blockaders intercepted the convoy in the Ojobazar area of Sajek.
Following several hours of negotiations with law enforcement authorities, the blockaders permitted the security convoy to transport the tourists to Khagrachhari. The blockade was subsequently relaxed on Monday and Tuesday before being reimposed indefinitely on Wednesday.
In light of security concerns, the Rangamati district administration imposed an indefinite travel ban on tourist visits to Sajek. Despite the relaxation of the road blockade, the administration has yet to issue any fresh directive regarding the lifting of the travel restriction.
Local sources and officials attribute the recurring instability to ongoing territorial disputes between two regional hill political factions—the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS-Santu Larma faction)—across various parts of Sajek Union over recent months.
Tensions escalated sharply following a shooting incident on the morning of September 29 in Mandirchhara Para under the Machalong area, where Sanjita Tripura (9), a third-grade student at Machalong Government Primary School, sustained bullet injuries. Repeated gunfights between the rival factions have heightened security concerns and created widespread panic among local residents.
Organizers behind the blockade stated that unless the JSS Santu group is removed from the Sajek region, the indefinite road blockade may resume following the conclusion of Durga Puja.
On Wednesday, members of various tourism sector organizations held a human chain and protest rally at Shapla Chattar in Khagrachhari town, demanding an immediate withdrawal of the travel ban to Sajek Valley and issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the administration.
Although the deadline for the ultimatum has expired, the administration has not announced any decision to lift the tourist travel ban.
While the relaxation of the blockade offers temporary relief for road transport during the Durga Puja period, the continuation of the travel ban leaves the resumption of normal tourism operations in Sajek Valley uncertain.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
