Sajek blockade hits tourism as bookings are cancelled

Road blockades in Sajek Valley continued on Friday, halting traffic and prompting widespread cancellation of resort bookings, raising concerns about losses in the popular tourist destination in Rangamati.
The Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee and Sajek Karbari Association began the blockade at 6am on Friday at several points along the Sajek-Baghaihat road, where protesters burned tyres.
The groups announced the programme on Wednesday, putting forward three demands, including the removal of armed members of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti, led by Santu Larma, from Sajek Valley in Baghaichhari upazila.
Sajek Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tofazzal Hossain said traffic remained suspended, although the overall situation was normal. Army and police operations against armed groups were continuing. A case over Thursday's incident was being processed, he said.
On Thursday, around 11:30am, army personnel exchanged gunfire with an armed group in Ujo Bazar while escorting stranded tourists out of the valley. Police said the situation returned to normal about an hour later.
The unrest has hit tourism businesses. Sajek has around 120 resorts and cottages with capacity for more than 3,000 guests, according to the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners Association.
Moti Joy Tripura, the association's joint general secretary, said the valley was now empty after the army escorted all tourists out on Thursday. Many properties had bookings until 30 October. He warned that more cancellations could badly affect tourism.
Mishu De, owner of Sajek Ruilui Holiday Resort, said all rooms had been booked until 25 October, but around 60% of reservations were cancelled by Friday morning.
Visitor numbers had risen after travel restrictions were lifted and the blockade was suspended from 16 to 21 October for Durga Puja.
Separately, Chhatra-Jonotar Sangram Parishad called a half-day road and waterway blockade in Rangamati and Khagrachhari from 5am to noon on Saturday.
The organisation’s president, Ushaton Chakma, said emergency medical transport, hearses, fire service vehicles, medicine carriers and vehicles carrying journalists would be exempt.
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