Sajek blockade enters sixth day

As a result, tourism activities in Sajek Valley, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, have come to a standstill. The prolonged impasse has raised concerns among tourism-related businesses and local residents.

The protesters are demanding the removal of armed members of the Santu Larma-backed faction of the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) from Sajek and the withdrawal of cases filed against them. Despite several rounds of discussions with the administration, no lasting solution has been reached.

A meeting between government representatives and protesters was held at Ujobaazar in Sajek on Monday afternoon. However, the talks failed to produce an agreement as the protesters did not receive any clear assurance regarding the removal of armed members of the Santu Larma-backed faction from the area, according to the Sajek Gana Odhikar Rakkha Committee.

In a press release, the organisation said the blockade would continue until effective decisions were taken to meet its demands.

Earlier, lawmakers from Rangamati and Khagrachhari had announced initiatives to hold talks with the relevant parties to resolve the ongoing unrest in Sajek and other parts of the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

At a meeting between the administration and headmen and karbaris from the two districts at the Rangamati deputy commissioner's conference room on October 25, it was decided to form a three-member committee to initiate discussions with the protesters. However, no visible progress has been made towards resolving the crisis despite these initiatives.

The blockade has disrupted travel to Sajek as vehicles remain off the road. On October 22, around 3,000 tourists were escorted from Sajek towards Khagrachhari with the assistance of the army and police under security arrangements.

Following the safe evacuation of the tourists, regular travel activities at Sajek's tourist spots virtually came to a halt.

A similar blockade on October 11 had also created a major crisis for tourists entering and leaving Sajek. The blockade was later relaxed from October 16 to 21 on the occasion of Durga Puja, but resumed on October 22. Consequently, Sajek's tourism sector has once again been paralysed after a brief reopening.

Sajek's tourism economy largely depends on resorts and cottages, transport services, restaurants, local shops and other tourist-related businesses. The suspension of tourist movement has disrupted normal business activities across these sectors.

With no tourists visiting the area, resort and cottage bookings, fares for Chander Gari vehicles and other transport, restaurant sales and the earnings of small businesses are expected to decline.

Tourism operators had earlier reported advance bookings at most resorts and cottages in Sajek ahead of the Durga Puja holidays. However, cancellations and postponements due to the blockade and security restrictions have caused financial losses for business owners.

If the situation continues, businesses may face increasing pressure in paying employees' salaries, meeting transport and operational costs and repaying loan instalments.

Earlier, tourism operators had expressed fears of losses worth several crore taka in the resort, cottage and transport sectors due to the suspension of tourism activities. The losses could increase further if the ongoing blockade continues, they said. However, updated information from the relevant sectors is needed to determine the total losses caused by the current blockade.

Mishu De, director of Rui Lui Resort in Sajek, said the tourist destination remained closed due to the blockade on the Sajek road and restrictions imposed by the administration.

"Such a standstill at the beginning of the tourism season is hurting business owners, employees and ordinary people. If the crisis is not resolved soon, it will become impossible for us to recover from the losses," he said.

While the protesters are seeking assurances that their demands will be met, tourism operators and local residents are waiting for normal life and economic activities to resume.

The suspension of road communication has created uncertainty not only for tourism but also for local transport and businesses.

Although the administration has taken initiatives to resolve the crisis through dialogue, Monday's failure to reach an agreement has left the prospects for an early resolution uncertain. Tourism operators believe effective discussions and an acceptable solution among the concerned parties are essential to minimise losses and restore normal life for local residents.

Motijoy Tripura, joint general secretary of the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners Association, said around 130 resorts and cottages in the area were currently without tourists.

"Besides these establishments, hundreds of people working at restaurants, tea stalls, grocery shops, food courts and as street vendors have become unemployed. The sale of fruits and agricultural produce grown by local residents has also come to a halt. Sajek has virtually become non-functional. We want this crisis to be resolved quickly," he said.

Meanwhile, as the two protesting organisations have announced that the blockade will continue, no definite timeline has been given for the resumption of normal traffic on the Sajek road.

As a result, uncertainty persists over when tourism activities in the popular destination will return to normal.

Repeated attempts to contact the leaders of the organisations over the phone for comment were unsuccessful.