The offices of the deputy commissioners in Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban issued directives on Sunday, prohibiting tourists from visiting the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) from October 8 to October 31 due to the ongoing unrest in the region.

District officials said the decision was made during an emergency meeting to ensure the safety of travelers and protect property, considering the volatile situation in the CHT. Khagrachari Deputy Commissioner Md Sahiduzzaman emphasized the importance of this move, particularly for those passing through Khagrachari town on their way to Sajek, to prevent any unexpected incidents.

Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan also confirmed that the decision was based on "unavoidable" reasons, while Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shah Mujahid Uddin reiterated the same.

The recent escalation of violence in Khagrachari followed the death of a teacher from Khagrachari Government Technical School and College on October 1. He was allegedly killed after being accused of raping a Class VII student from the Tripura community, sparking clashes between Bengali residents and minority communities.

Earlier, district authorities had discouraged travel to Sajek from October 1 to 3 due to the unrest. On September 19, sectarian violence erupted in Dighinala following rumors that a Bengali man had been beaten to death by minority groups in Khagrachari town. This spurred several days of violence, leaving four members of minority communities dead and over 200 homes, shops, and Buddhist temples vandalized or set on fire between September 19 and 23.

Tourist centers in Sajek have been closed in multiple phases since late September to avoid further incidents. In one such instance on September 21, around 1,500 tourists were stranded in Sajek for three days due to a 72-hour blockade called by the Jumma Chhatra Janata, only leaving after law enforcement intervened.

The restriction on travel is seen as a necessary precaution to prevent any untoward incidents during this period of unrest.

BOB Post