ISPR says armed UPDF members fired 30-40 rounds at tourists, others, while they deny gunfire allegations
Six members of law enforcement agencies were injured during violence surrounding a road blockade on the Sajek-Baghaihat road in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari upazila on Thursday, as the Army and police safely evacuated around 3,000 stranded tourists.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate said armed members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) opened fire on tourists and law enforcers during the blockade at Gangaram Bazar.
No casualties among the tourists were reported in the ISPR statement.
According to the ISPR, the blockade had halted traffic on the Sajek-Baghaihat road, leaving thousands of holidaymakers stranded in the hill resort.
It also alleged that UPDF members had forced local residents to serve as human shields while blocking the road.
The Army and police jointly arranged security to bring the stranded tourists safely to Khagrachhari, the ISPR said.
At around 10am on Thursday, protesters blocked the road at Gangaram Bazar and stopped tourist vehicles from moving.
Army and police patrol teams attempted to negotiate with them to secure safe passage for the tourists.
According to the ISPR, at around 10:45am, protesters began throwing bricks and stones at security personnel and tourists, allegedly at the instigation of the UPDF.
Law enforcers used batons to disperse the crowd and restore the movement of tourist vehicles.
The ISPR said preliminary information indicated that armed UPDF members fired around 30 to 40 rounds at law enforcers and tourists at approximately 11am.
An Army patrol returned fire in self-defence and to protect the tourists, forcing the armed men to flee.
The remaining stranded tourists were subsequently evacuated through coordinated efforts by the Army and police.
Rangamati Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib, however, said six members of law enforcement agencies were injured when protesters hurled bricks and stones at security personnel during efforts to facilitate the convoy’s passage.
Speaking at a press conference at his office around 2pm on Thursday, he said the convoy had left Sajek at around 9am under Army and police escort.
When it reached the Ujo Bazar area around 10am, law enforcers held talks with protesters, who then attacked them with bricks and stones.
The protesters were subsequently removed from the road, allowing the convoy to proceed, he added.
Blockade resumed after Durga Puja suspension
The Sajek road blockade began on October 11 and was enforced by the Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association.
The programme continued until October 15 before being suspended from October 16 to 21 for Durga Puja.
The organisations announced a fresh round of blockade on Wednesday, to continue indefinitely from Thursday, and urged tourists to leave Sajek.
Following the announcement, the district administration temporarily closed Sajek Valley for security reasons.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday evening, Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi said the tourist destination in Baghaichhari upazila would remain closed until further notice.
ISPR says blockade was pre-planned
The ISPR said initial information suggested that the blockade and ensuing violence had been pre-planned by the UPDF.
It expressed concern over allegations that local residents had been intimidated into joining the blockade and used as human shields.
Around 3,000 tourists stranded in Sajek were safely evacuated with the help of the Bangladesh Army and police after armed members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) opened fire on tourists and law enforcers during a road blockade in Rangamati today (22 October).
According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate, the incident took place in the Gangaram Bazar area of Sajek, disrupting traffic on the Sajek-Baghaihat road and leaving thousands of tourists stranded.
Around 10am, protesters obstructed tourist vehicles in Gangaram Bazar, halting their movement.
Army and police patrol teams attempted to negotiate with the protesters to ensure safe passage for the tourists, according to the release.
However, around 10:45am, the protesters began throwing bricks and stones at law enforcers and tourists at the instigation of the UPDF.
The security forces dispersed the protesters using batons and restored the movement of tourist vehicles, the ISPR said.
UPDF denies gunfire report
The UPDF has denied reports that the Army exchanged gunfire with an armed group in Sajek, describing them as “completely false and fabricated”.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, UPDF spokesperson Angya Marma said reports published media outlets, citing the Rangamati superintendent of police, were untrue.
He said the organisation had found no evidence of an exchange of gunfire between security forces and any armed group after speaking to local residents.
Marma alleged that security personnel had fired in different directions in an attempt to disrupt the peaceful road blockade by Sajek residents.
The protesters are demanding the removal of armed members of the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS-Santu Larma faction) from the area.
He also condemned what he described as attacks, baton charges, vandalism of homes and intimidation targeting peaceful protesters.
The UPDF spokesperson called on the authorities to ensure the safety of Sajek residents, meet their demands, remove the armed members of the JSS-Santu Larma faction from the area and take action against them.
The statement was issued on behalf of the UPDF’s Publicity and Publication Department by Niron Chakma.
Half-day blockade called in two districts
Meanwhile, the Chhatra-Janatar Sangram Parishad has called a half-day blockade of roads and waterways in Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts on Saturday, protesting the alleged attacks, baton charges and vandalism during the Sajek road blockade and expressing solidarity with the demands of Sajek residents.
The programme was announced in a press release signed by the organisation’s Organising Secretary Niloy Chakma at 5pm on Thursday. The blockade will run from the morning until noon on Saturday.
Its president, Ushatan Chakma, called on democratic and progressive organisations across the Chattogram Hill Tracts, as well as transport owners’ and workers’ organisations in Khagrachhari and Rangamati, to support the programme.
Ambulances and vehicles carrying patients, hearses, fire service vehicles, vehicles transporting emergency medicines and those carrying journalists will remain exempt from the blockade.