Tourist visits to Sajek have been suspended since mid-September

Rangamati Correspondent:

Following the violence in Khagrachhari in mid-September, the resorts in Sajek have been closed to tourists, and those in the tourism sector are uncertain when the situation will return to normal.

Many local families in the hills rely on providing various services to tourists for their livelihood, and they too are finding it hard to get by in these circumstances.

All types of businesses in Sajek — from cottages, resorts, hotels, and restaurants, to smaller shops — are shut down, leading to losses in the crores.

Business owners, as well as their employees, are enduring severe hardship, and many business owners are worried about how they will recover from these losses.

Md Jasim Uddin, a driver, said: “Usually, around 200 vehicles carry tourists to Sajek regularly. With tourism halted, we are struggling to support our families. Reopening Sajek’s tourist spots would revive our economy.”

Meanwhile, Md Riyad, owner of the Peda Ting Ting restaurant in Sajek, said: “With no tourists, we are incurring significant losses. Our daily business used to be around Tk30,000–Tk40,000, and now all 18 restaurants here are closed. Being closed for over a month and a half has financially crippled us.”

Rahul Chakma John, organizing secretary of the Sajek Cottage and Resort Owners Association, told that there are 116 resorts, 14 restaurants, and around 100 small shops in Sajek.

“Normally, this season fills our cottages with tourists. Currently, every person associated with Sajek’s tourism sector is in dire straits.”

He urged the administration to reopen Sajek’s tourist spots as soon as possible, also requesting the government to provide financial aid to help businesses recover.

The association’s president, Suporno Deb Barman, said if tourism in Sajek is not reopened by October 31, the situation will become more desperate.

“We request the administration to reopen Sajek’s tourist centre promptly.”

Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mosaraf Hossain Khan said: “Tourist visits to Rangamati district have been discouraged until October 31. We are taking steps from the district administration to prevent this from being prolonged, as we want to ensure no one’s livelihood remains stalled and everyone’s economic well-being is preserved.”

On the morning of September 19, in Pankhaiya Para, Khagrachhari, a young man named Md Mamun, 30, was assaulted on suspicion of motorcycle theft.

He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where doctors declared him dead.

Following this incident, a protest march in the Larma Square area of Dighinala upazila turned into a violent clash, resulting in three fatalities.

The tension spread to Rangamati town the following day.

On the morning of September 20, hundreds of hill residents held a procession in the district town, vandalizing shops and establishments in Banarupa.

The district administration later imposed Section 144 to control the situation, as further clashes erupted.