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RANGAMATI: A gunfight broke out between law enforcement personnel and an armed group in Ujobaazar area of Sajek in Baghaichhari, Rangamati, on Thursday, police said.
The exchange of gunfire began around 11:30am and was still ongoing as of 12:30pm, according to police.
Rangamati Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib confirmed the information to the media. He said law enforcement personnel were engaged in a gunfight with an armed group around 12:30pm and that further details would be provided after inquiries.
Earlier, around 2,000 tourists returning from Sajek Valley were stranded on their way to Khagrachhari. They had started their journey around 9am on Thursday under the escort of army and police personnel. However, they became stranded in the Ujobaazar area around 9:30am due to a blockade called by two regional organisations.
As the protesters were stationed in Ujobaazar, the tourists could not proceed. Later, law enforcement personnel used batons to disperse the protesters, who then moved away. Around 11am, the convoy of tourist vehicles left the area. Police said the gunfight between security forces and the armed group began around 11:30am, shortly after the incident.
On Wednesday, two organisations—the Sajek People’s Rights Protection Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association—announced a third round of blockade on the Sajek tourist road. In a statement, they said the blockade would continue indefinitely from Thursday and urged all tourists to leave Sajek by Wednesday.
Following the blockade called by the two regional organisations, the district administration announced the temporary closure of Sajek on security grounds.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday evening, Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi said Sajek Valley, a tourist destination in Baghaichhari upazila, would remain temporarily closed until further notice. The notice also instructed everyone to leave Sajek safely by 4pm on Thursday.
Tourists began leaving Sajek on Thursday morning in compliance with the district administration’s directive. However, they encountered the protesters at Ujobaazar in Baghaichhari less than half an hour after leaving Sajek.
Earlier, the Sajek People’s Rights Protection Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association launched their second round of an indefinite blockade on the Sajek tourist road on October 15. The protesters demonstrated by setting fire to tyres and tree trunks at various points along the road.
One of the three key demands of the protesters is the removal of armed members of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS), led by Santu Larma, from the Sajek area. They had called an indefinite blockade on October 11 over the same demand.
