The ongoing political uncertainty surrounding the upcoming 13th parliamentary election has put a severe damper on Bandarban’s tourism industry.
Despite the extended public holiday for the election, which typically sees a surge in tourism activities, local authorities’ travel restrictions and the Election Commission’s ban on citizens from staying outside their respective constituencies have left hotels, motels, and resorts in Bandarban deserted.
The restrictions, enforced to mitigate the potential for election-related violence and disruptions, have resulted in significant losses for the local tourism sector, with business owners fearing revenue losses running into several crore taka during the peak tourist season.
Sirazul Islam, president of the Bandarban District Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners Association, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “During this time of the year, with schools closed and the start of the tourism season, our hotels, motels, and resorts would normally be fully booked. However, the Election Commission’s circular has completely disrupted our expectations.”
According to Sirazul Islam, the district of Bandarban is home to over 200 hotels, motels, and resorts, 73 of which are located in the district’s capital. Typically, with a four to five-day long holiday on the horizon, tourism investors in the area anticipate substantial earnings. However, due to the Election Commission’s restrictions and a range of uncertainties, up to Tk8 to Tk10 crore in tourism revenue has now been jeopardised.
Chairman of the Sairu Hill Resort, Ranglai Mro, reported that his resort had been empty since Sunday. “The advance bookings we were expecting for the upcoming holiday period have been nullified due to the Election Commission’s restrictions,” he said.
The restrictions have also hit several eco-tourism businesses in the region. Operators of eco-friendly resorts such as Sairu Hill Resort, Guide Tours, and Bliss Eco Village, which had invested heavily in providing top-notch services, have expressed deep disappointment.
Mofizul Islam Mamun, General Manager of the newly opened Tongabati Nature Resort located far from Bandarban town, explained that their resort had no advance bookings for the holiday period due to the election. “We’ve just started operating, and this election-related issue has come as a major blow to us,” he added.
In a circular issued by the Election Commission on 9 February, it was announced that no citizen would be allowed to stay outside their designated election area 48 hours before and 24 hours after voting. The restriction will apply from 7:30am on 10 February until 4:30pm on 13 February.
The Election Commission’s Election Management and Coordination Branch, led by Senior Assistant Secretary Md Shahidul Islam, requested that the district commissioners and police superintendents enforce these restrictions effectively.
In addition, the Upazila Executive Officer of Lama issued another circular on 6 February, instructing that all residential hotels and resorts in the region be closed from 10 to 13 February in accordance with the Election Commission’s directives.
A resort owner in Lama, who requested anonymity, shared his concern, saying, “More than 60 small resorts have recently been established around the Miringja Valley and nearby areas. The valley has gained significant attention as a tourist destination, but now, with no bookings for the upcoming holiday, it’s a big setback for small investors.”
Gias Uddin Master, president of the Bandarban Restaurant Owners Association, and Nasirul Alam, president of the Car-Microbus and Jeep Owners Association, expressed their frustrations with the Election Commission’s orders.
Gias Uddin noted that more than 500 jeeps, cabs, and cars operate in the district to cater to tourists, and with no tourist arrivals, they will face severe business losses.
Despite the restrictions, some visitors have managed to make their way to the more remote tourist spots in the Thanchi area, which remain accessible due to their difficult terrain. However, local sources suggest that this is only a small fraction of the usual influx of tourists.
As the travel bans continue, local street food vendors, small restaurants, and informal food shops in Bandarban—common sources of income for low-investment entrepreneurs—are also facing substantial losses. The ongoing restrictions will likely lead to even greater economic hardship for these small businesses, who rely on the tourism boom during national holidays.
Overall, the Election Commission’s restrictions have not only halted tourist arrivals but also disrupted the livelihoods of countless workers and businesses that depend on tourism, further escalating concerns about the broader economic impact on Bandarban’s tourism sector.
