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Armed members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) fired 30–40 rounds targeting tourists and law enforcement personnel in Sajek, Rangamati, on Thursday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The incident took place around 11am on October 22 in the Gangaram Bazar area, the ISPR said in a press release.
Around 3,000 tourists stranded in Sajek were safely evacuated with the assistance of the army and police. No casualties were reported in the incident, it added.
According to the ISPR, armed UPDF members blocked a road in the Gangaram Bazar area, allegedly forcing local residents to act as human shields. The blockade halted traffic on the Sajek–Baghaichhari road, leaving around 3,000 tourists stranded in the popular tourist destination.
The blockade began around 10am, when protesters placed obstacles on the road and stopped tourist vehicles from moving, the statement said.
Army and police patrol teams attempted to resolve the situation through discussions with the protesters. However, around 10:45am, the protesters began throwing bricks and stones at law enforcement personnel and tourists.
The security forces used batons to disperse the protesters and subsequently restored the movement of tourist vehicles, according to the ISPR.
At around 11am, armed UPDF members allegedly fired 30–40 rounds at law enforcement personnel and tourists. An army patrol team returned fire in self-defence and to ensure the safety of the tourists, the statement said. The armed individuals eventually fled the scene.
A joint effort by the army and police later ensured the safe evacuation of the stranded tourists. The ISPR reiterated that no casualties had been reported.
The ISPR said preliminary information suggested that the blockade and violence had been planned in advance. It also alleged that local residents had been intimidated into participating in the blockade and used as human shields.
The statement further claimed that, amid ongoing security operations in different parts of the Chattogram Hill Tracts, some armed UPDF members had become cornered and taken positions in tourist areas.
Such violent activities undermine peace, stability and public safety in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, while negatively affecting tourism and the livelihoods of local residents, the ISPR said.
The army will continue working in coordination with the civil administration and other law enforcement agencies to maintain peace, harmony and stability in the region and ensure the safety of local people and tourists, it added.