Army, armed group exchange fire, 3,000 tourists evacuated

Around 3,000 tourists stranded in Sajek Valley in Rangamati were evacuated under army and police escort on Thursday after gunfire erupted during a road blockade, leaving seven security personnel injured and disrupting transport and daily life in the hill region.

Five army personnel and two police members were injured, while no tourists were hurt, Rangamati Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib said.

The confrontation took place on the Sajek-Baghaihat road near Gangaram Bazar, where protesters had blocked traffic since early morning, stranding visitors returning from the hill resort and disrupting movement between Sajek and Dighinala in Khagrachhari.

According to police, the blockade began around 6am, with protesters placing logs across the road at several points, including Ujo Bazar, and setting tyres on fire. By around 8:30am, a convoy of tourists returning from Sajek had been stopped, leaving approximately 2,350 people stranded.

Security personnel later moved to clear the route and escort the tourists to safety. However, the situation deteriorated when they approached protesters for negotiations, the SP said.

Speaking at a press briefing around 2:30pm, Abdur Rakib alleged that protesters pelted security personnel with bricks before armed members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) opened fire as vehicles began moving. Security forces returned fire to protect the tourists, he said.

An army statement said the violence escalated around 11am, when armed individuals allegedly fired 30 to 40 rounds at security personnel and tourists. The army returned fire, describing its response as necessary to protect its personnel and ensure the visitors’ safety.

Intermittent gunfire continued until around 1pm, according to the SP. The situation was subsequently brought under control, allowing the stranded tourists to leave under a special security escort.

Tofazzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sajek Police Station, confirmed that army and police personnel escorted the visitors to safety.

The army alleged that the blockade had been planned in advance and that local residents were intimidated into joining it and used as human shields. The allegations could not be independently verified, and a response from the UPDF was not available.

The blockade organisers, meanwhile, alleged that armed members of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS-Santu group) had established positions in several areas of Sajek, including Machalong, Thalkumbho, Chillyatuli Kuti, Noapara, Lambabak and Bhuiochhari. They claimed that more than 100 residents had been forced to leave their homes.

The organisers said the blockade would continue until their three-point demands were met, including the removal of armed members from the area and guarantees for local communities’ safety.

The organisations had enforced intermittent road blockades since October 11 before suspending the programme until October 21 for Durga Puja. 

The renewed blockade has disrupted transport, restricted movement and complicated the delivery of essential goods. 

According to the organisers, around 30,000 people from the local Lusai, Tripura, Chakma and Marma communities have been affected. 

Residents have struggled to travel and obtain essential commodities, while farmers have faced difficulties transporting their jhum crops to markets amid transport shortages.

The incident has highlighted the consequences of insecurity along a key access route for tourists and local communities whose livelihoods depend on transport and tourism-related activities.

The army said it would continue coordinating with the civil administration and other law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and stability in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and protect residents and visitors. 

The circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire and the competing allegations against armed groups remain independently unverified.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has expressed concern over the situation surrounding Sajek in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati, urging the authorities to take clear action based on accurate intelligence rather than allegedly false information.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, he questioned what was happening in Sajek and called for a fact-based response to the situation.

“What is happening around Sajek in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati district? Instead of chasing false intelligence, clear steps should be taken based on accurate intelligence,” he wrote.

He further said no one had the right to treat the lives of ordinary citizens lightly and urged the authorities to take appropriate measures before it was too late.

“Take the right steps while there is still time,” he added.

His remarks came amid concerns over the situation surrounding Sajek. However, the specific circumstances behind his statement and the alleged intelligence inaccuracies were not detailed in the post.