A total of 2,933 tourists stranded in Sajek Valley were safely escorted out by security forces on Thursday amid an exchange of gunfire between law enforcement personnel and armed groups during an indefinite blockade of the Sajek tourist road in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari upazila.
The clash broke out around 11am at Ujo Bazar in Sajek Union when security personnel tried to clear a blockade and escort the tourists towards Khagrachhari. The confrontation began with protesters throwing bricks and stones before escalating into gunfire, police said.
Tofazzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sajek Police Station, confirmed the matter and said protesters stopped a convoy carrying tourists from Sajek when it reached Ujo Bazar. After about an hour of efforts to remove the barricade, protesters hurled bricks and stones at law enforcement personnel and tourists before gunfire was directed at security forces.
The tourists were eventually escorted to safety after army personnel cleared the barricade. It was not immediately known whether anyone had been injured or killed in the exchange of gunfire.
The blockade began at 6am on Thursday, jointly called by the Sajek Ganadhikar Rakkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association to press for a three-point demand. Protesters set fire to tyres at several points along the road, halting all vehicle movement between Dighinala in Khagrachhari and Sajek Valley.
A special security convoy comprising army and police personnel left Sajek for Baghaihat around 8:30am with the stranded tourists. When it reached Ujo Bazar around 10:30am, protesters blocked its path.
Security personnel held discussions with the protesters for several hours, urging them to allow the tourists to pass, but the protesters refused to withdraw the blockade. Army personnel eventually broke through the barricade to facilitate the tourists’ safe passage.
Additional security measures have been taken in the area to bring the situation under control.
Meanwhile, the Rangamati district administration has suspended tourist visits to Sajek from Thursday until further notice, citing the prevailing security situation.
The restriction was announced in a public notice signed by Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi on Wednesday night, which said the decision had been taken due to unavoidable circumstances.
The organisations enforcing the blockade 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, forcing more than 100 local residents to leave their homes.
They said the blockade would continue until their three-point demands, including the removal of armed members from the area and ensuring the safety of local residents, were met.
The organisations had enforced intermittent blockades since October 11 but suspended the programme until October 21 for Durga Puja.
The renewed blockade has caused severe hardship for around 30,000 people from the local Lusai, Tripura, Chakma and Marma communities, disrupting movement and the transport of essential commodities.
Local farmers have also struggled to take their jhum crops to market because of transport shortages.
The Army and police remain on high alert as the administration works to restore normalcy and resolve the crisis.