Resort and cottage owners in Sajek, Rangamati, are facing widespread booking cancellations following Thursday's (22 October) clashes between blockade supporters and law enforcers, as an indefinite road blockade continues to disrupt traffic and leave the tourist destination empty.
Mishu De, owner of Sajek Ruilui Holiday Resort, said all rooms had been booked from before Durga Puja through 25 October, but around 60% of the bookings were cancelled by Friday morning following the renewed blockade and clashes. More cancellations were likely unless the situation returned to normal, he added.
Matijoy Tripura, joint general secretary of the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners' Association, said bookings through 25, 28 and 30 October were also being cancelled. No tourists remained in Sajek after the army escorted visitors out on Thursday, he said, warning that prolonged cancellations could seriously damage the local tourism industry.
According to the association, Sajek has around 120 resorts and cottages with a combined capacity of more than 3,000 tourists.
The Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee and Sajek Karbari Association have been enforcing an indefinite road blockade since 22 October, after suspending the programme from 16 to 21 October for Durga Puja. They initially launched the blockade on 11 October, demanding the removal of armed members of the Jana Samhati Samiti (Santu group) from the area.
Tourists began returning to Sajek on 16 October after the administration lifted travel restrictions and the blockade was suspended for the Puja holidays. However, the renewed blockade and clashes on Thursday disrupted travel again.
Since 6am today (23 October), protesters have intermittently burned tyres at several points along the Sajek–Baghaichhari road, including kilometre markers 10 and 14. Police said traffic remained suspended, although the overall situation was normal.
Bijoy Kanti Chakma, member secretary of the Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee, said the blockade would continue. He claimed nearly 100 people were injured in Thursday's clashes, including eight seriously, when law enforcers charged batons.
He also alleged that law enforcers were preventing some of the injured from seeking treatment, adding that the organisers were trying to arrange medical care for them.
Officer-in-Charge of Sajek Police Station Tofazzal Hossain said the blockade remained in place, halting traffic, while the overall situation was normal. Army and police operations against armed groups were continuing, he said, adding that a case over Thursday's incident was being processed.
The committee and the association have three demands: the removal of armed PCJSS (Santu group) members from Sajek and surrounding areas; an end to death threats, intimidation and pressure on residents; and an end to security searches of residents' homes, with the return of mobile phones and other belongings seized during searches.
Half-day road, waterway blockade called for today
Meanwhile, Chhatra-Janata Sangram Parishad has called a half-day blockade of roads and waterways in Rangamati and Khagrachhari on Saturday, protesting Thursday's clashes at Ujjo Bazar in Sajek and expressing support for residents' demands.
In a statement sent to the media, the organisation's secretary, Nirmal Chakma, condemned what it described as an attack on a peaceful blockade, baton charges and the vandalism of homes and shops.
President Ushatan Chakma said the blockade would run from 5am to noon. Ambulances and other vehicles carrying patients, hearses, fire service vehicles, vehicles transporting emergency medicines and those carrying journalists would be exempt.