An indefinite road blockade in Sajek has caused losses worth crores of taka to tourism businesses, with resorts and cottages cancelling advance bookings amid continued uncertainty.
Meanwhile, a half-day road and waterway blockade has been called in Rangamati and Khagrachhari for Saturday to protest alleged attacks on demonstrators and press for the implementation of three-point demands.
The blockade, enforced by the Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association, continued on Friday at several points in the tourist destination in Rangamati.
Protesters burned tyres and tree trunks at places including Ujo Bazar in Gangaram.
Room bookings at resorts and cottages in Sajek have been cancelled following renewed road blockades and clashes since Thursday, dealing a major blow to the area’s tourism businesses.
Sumedh Chakma, owner of Jummobi Restaurant and Resort, said the ongoing blockade had caused losses worth crores of taka as resorts were forced to cancel advance bookings.
According to the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners Association, the tourist destination has around 120 resorts and cottages with a combined capacity to accommodate more than 3,000 visitors.
Tourist arrivals had increased significantly from 16 October after the administrative ban on travel to Sajek was lifted. However, the renewed blockade has prompted visitors to cancel their existing bookings.
Tourism business owners said around 60 per cent of their bookings had been cancelled since Thursday morning following the latest blockade and clashes.
They warned that more cancellations were likely if the situation did not return to normal soon, raising concerns over further losses for local tourism businesses.
He called for ensuring the safety of tourists and lifting restrictions on travel to Sajek.
Meanwhile, a human chain was held in Khagrachhari town on Friday afternoon under the banner of Sajek Tourism People and Local People, demanding tourist safety and the withdrawal of restrictions on travel to the area.
The Chhatra-Janata Sangram Parishad has called for a peaceful half-day road and waterway blockade from 5am to noon on Saturday in Rangamati and Khagrachhari, protesting alleged attacks, baton charges and vandalism during Thursday’s blockade.
In a statement issued on Friday evening, the organisation’s president, Ushatan Chakma, urged people to observe the programme peacefully.
Conflicting accounts of Thursday’s clashes
The Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee has claimed that at least 90 people, including children, were injured in baton charges and attacks by security personnel on Thursday.
Its member secretary, Bijoy Kanti Chakma, said the number of injured could exceed 100 once residents who had fled their homes returned.
The committee also alleged that security personnel had damaged houses and shops belonging to local residents and fired blank shots. It denied reports of an exchange of gunfire between the army and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF).
Rangamati police, however, claimed that four army personnel and two police members were injured after protesters threw bricks at security personnel and tourists near Ujo Bazar while tourists were being escorted out of Sajek.
On Thursday afternoon, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said there had been an exchange of gunfire between the army and the UPDF, but no casualties had been reported. UPDF leaders later denied that any exchange of gunfire had taken place.
Three demands behind the blockade
The Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association began the blockade over three demands- the withdrawal of members of the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS), led by Santu Larma, from five areas of Machalong within 48 hours; an end to alleged threats against local residents; and an end to house searches and harassment by security forces.
The five areas named by the organisers are Thalkumbho, Chillyatuli, Noapara, Lambabak and Bhuoichhari.
The blockade was first launched across Sajek on 8 October. The organisers have withdrawn and reinstated it several times since then, with the latest round beginning on Thursday.
The continued disruption has dealt a blow to the area’s tourism industry, with business owners warning of mounting losses as visitors cancel their trips and accommodation bookings.
