Roads remain blocked, shops shut and resorts deserted as fear grips the valley
Published : 24 October 2026
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Updated : 24 October 2026, 02:13
A sense of panic prevails in Sajek Valley and its surrounding areas in Rangamati, a day after clashes and a reported gunfight during a road blockade.
The tourist hub has taken on a deserted look after the local administration shut it down following Thursday’s violence.
The blockade was enforced by Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee and Sajek Karbari Association (village headmen’s association) to press for three demands, including the removal of an alleged armed group linked with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS).
Vehicular movement on Sajek-Rangamati Sadar road remained halted for two consecutive days. Protesters yesterday burnt tyres at different points as part of their road blockade.
Most shops in the Ujo Bazar area remained closed. Many villagers left the area, fearing possible raids and interrogation of law enforcement agencies.
“Whenever locals come to the road, they are facing interrogation and scrutiny by law enforcers. It instills fear into the villagers,” said a resident of Ujo Bazar, seeking anonymity.
“We have left our village and shops in fear. Many of our villagers have taken shelters in their relatives’ houses,” said a leader of Ujo Bazar Traders’ Association, also wishing not to be named.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Bijoy Kanti Chakma, member secretary of the Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee, said around 100 people of their group were injured in Thursday’s incident.
Of them, eight were critically injured, he claimed, alleging that none of them could be taken anywhere for treatment because law enforcers were obstructing them. “However, we are trying to arrange treatment for the injured on our own. We will continue our blockade.”Speaking to this newspaper, Rangamati Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib said few people were out on the streets and vehicular movement had stopped due to the blockade.
The SP added that those who had fled their homes or shops would face no obstacles in returning.
Although traffic remained suspended due to the blockade, the situation was normal, said Tofazzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sajek Police Station.
He added that joint operations by the army and police against armed terrorist groups were underway.
However, no case was filed till filing of the report around 7:00pm yesterday in connection with Thursday’s violence.
Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee and Sajek Karbari Association first enforced an indefinite blockade on October 11. They later submitted their demands before the local administration and suspended their programme for two days after getting assurances. When the demands remained unmet, they resumed the blockade on October 15. The blockade was suspended during Durga Puja.
On Wednesday afternoon, the two organisations announced that they would enforce a blockade starting at 6:00am on Thursday. The local administration then announced a closure of the tourist centre and asked tourists to leave by 4:00pm on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, around 3,000 tourists stranded on the road from Sajek were escorted to Khagrachhari after clashes between supporters of the blockade and law enforcers, and then a reported gunfight between United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) members and security forces.
The army and police jointly conducted the evacuation and five army personnel and two police members were injured in the clashes, SP Rakib said on Thursday.
Besides the removal of an armed group, the protesters’ other demands include ending death threats against innocent people and stopping law enforcement agencies from searching ordinary people’s homes.
According to the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners’ Association, around 120 resorts and cottages in Sajek can accommodate over 3,000 tourists and the valley saw a large turnout of tourists during Durga Puja holidays. But previous bookings are now being cancelled.
Talking to this correspondent, Mishu Dey, owner of Sajek Ruilui Holiday Resort, said, “Our resort was fully booked from before Durga Puja through October 25. But following Thursday’s blockade and clashes, around 60 percent of the bookings have been cancelled. If the situation does not return to normal soon, the remaining bookings are likely to be cancelled too.”
Motijoy Tripura, joint general secretary of the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners’ Association, said continued cancellations and a decline in tourist visits could cause a major downturn in the tourism sector.
Several tourism-related organisations demanded the reopening of the Sajek tourist centre. They formed a human chain in Khagrachhari town yesterday to press for their demand.