Tourists Stranded in Sajek Reach Their Destination Safely After Exchange of Fire, No One Harmed
An exchange of fire has taken place between security forces and blockaders at Ujobazar in Sajek, Rangamati. But before that, the tourists stranded at Ujobazar had already left safely for their destination, it has been learned; no tourist was harmed in the incident.
On Thursday (22 October) morning, the tourists' vehicle convoy came up against a barricade of protesters at Ujobazar. One account put the number at around two thousand tourists and a local representative's estimate at around three thousand — the convoy, which had set off towards Khagrachhari at around 9am under army and police escort, became stuck at around 9:30am because of the blockaders' position.
Anwar Hossain, general secretary of the Baghaichhari Upazila Press Club, who was present at Ujobazar in Sajek, said: "The law enforcement forces repeatedly requested the protesters to move away, but they did not move. At one stage, the law enforcement forces removed the blockaders and took the tourists away safely." According to police, the tourist convoy left the area at around 11am.
Anwar Hossain said that after the tourists left Ujobazar, an exchange of fire took place between terrorists and the security forces. Police said the gunfire began at around 11:30am and continued until 12:30pm.
Rangamati Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib confirmed the matter, saying gunfire was exchanged with an armed group and details would be provided after inquiries. Reporting intermittent gunfire, he said the travelling tourists had left Sajek safely.
When contacted by mobile phone, Sajek Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tofazzal Hossain said: "We are busy now. We will provide details later once the situation returns to normal."
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Sajek Karbari Association and the Sajek Gono-Odhikar Rokkha Committee announced a third phase of an indefinite blockade. In response, citing security reasons, the Rangamati district administration declared the Sajek Valley tourist centre closed until further notice. Under the district administration's instructions, tourists staying in Sajek were asked to leave the area safely by 4pm on Thursday; the tourists were returning in the morning in compliance with that instruction.
The blockading organisations demand that the armed members of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS-Santu Larma) be withdrawn from the Sajek area. They are observing the programme with three-point demands including this one. However, the JSS has denied the allegation. The organisation's publicity secretary Sajib Chakma said such allegations are being raised to cover up the long-standing oppression and harassment of ordinary people in Sajek by armed members of the UPDF.
Local businesspeople have suffered losses due to the blockade and the closure of the tourist centre. Matijoy Tripura, assistant general secretary of the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners Association, said many tourists have cancelled advance bookings. He said that because of the road blockade, local residents, alongside tourists and businesspeople, also suffer; buying food supplies and taking agricultural produce to market are also disrupted.
Md Yasin, lineman of the tourist vehicles, said vehicles usually leave Sajek for Khagrachhari at 10:30am. But because of the blockade, vehicles left at 9am on Thursday and the tourists set off under police and army escort.
The most relieving news of the day is that, even amid a tense situation involving an exchange of fire, all the stranded tourists left the area safely and reached their destination, and none of them was harmed, according to those concerned.
All eyes are now on the situation in Sajek. The coming picture of this hill tourist centre will depend on whether the indefinite blockade is withdrawn, when the closed tourist centre reopens, and whether a normal environment returns to the area.
