Tourists asked to leave Sajek by Thursday afternoon

Rangamati district administration has asked tourists currently staying in Sajek Valley to leave the area by Thursday afternoon amid security concerns as protesters prepare to enforce an indefinite road blockade from Thursday.

The Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association announced the fresh blockade, saying their three-point demands had not been met despite assurances from the administration.

The organisations had suspended their blockade from October 16 to 21 to facilitate Durga Puja celebrations.

They said the programme would resume on Thursday and continue indefinitely until their demands were fulfilled.

Their demands include the withdrawal of armed members of the Santu Larma faction of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) from Sajek and measures to ensure the safety of local residents and their property.

The protesters have alleged that armed members of the group threatened local residents, an allegation denied by the JSS.

The renewed blockade is expected to disrupt road communications to and from Sajek, a popular tourist destination in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari upazila.