Tourists stranded in Sajek as blockade resume

Meanwhile, the Rangamati district administration suspended tourist entry into Sajek Valley from 7PM on Wednesday until further notice, citing law and order concerns and overall security risks.

According to an administrative directive, all tourists currently staying in Sajek were instructed to leave for their respective destinations safely by 4PM on Thursday.

Yasin Arafat, a line manager of the Sajek Jeep Association, said around 150 vehicles, including private cars and other small and large vehicles, had entered Sajek by Wednesday afternoon.

Vehicles were scheduled to leave Sajek in a convoy at 8am on Thursday. However, they were still lined up at 8:30am, and no final decision had been made on their departure, he said.

The two organisations jointly announced the renewed blockade on Wednesday afternoon, urging tourists to leave Sajek by that day.

They said the blockade had been suspended from October 16 to 21 at the request of the Durga Puja celebration committees of Baghaihat and Machalong markets, in respect for the Hindu community's Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations.

With the festival over and their demands still unmet, the organisations decided to resume the protest, according to their representatives.

The protesters allege that armed activities are being carried out openly in villages across Sajek under the leadership of Chinu Marma and Simon Chakma, identified by them as company commanders of an armed group affiliated with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS).

They claim that more than 100 local residents have been forced to leave their homes amid intimidation and death threats.

Leaders of the protesting organisations said the blockade would continue until the safety of local residents was ensured and what they described as harassment by armed groups was brought to an end. The allegations could not be independently verified.