700 tourists arrive in Sajek on first day after travel ban lifted

Sajek Valley in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari upazila has come alive with tourists following the lifting of travel restrictions and the easing of a transport blockade.

More than 700 tourists entered Sajek on Friday (October 16), the first day after the travel ban was lifted.

At around 10:30am, the tourists arrived in Sajek from Khagrachhari under a special security escort provided by the Bangladesh Army’s Baghaihat Army Zone.

Tourism-related businesses are hopeful that visitor numbers will rise further during the upcoming Durga Puja holidays.

An indefinite blockade called by two organisations over a dispute concerning territorial dominance was eased from Friday until October 21. Meanwhile, the Rangamati district administration lifted the travel ban on Sajek on Thursday night.

Suparna Deb Barman, president of the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners’ Association and a member of the Rangamati Hill District Council, said the prolonged absence of tourists had caused substantial financial losses to the region’s tourism sector.

“If sufficient numbers of tourists visit during the Durga Puja holidays, we will be able to recover much of the losses incurred over the past few days,” he said.

He added that bookings had already begun for rooms at most resorts and cottages in Sajek ahead of the holiday period.

Tofazzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sajek Police Station, said the tourists travelling from Khagrachhari had reached Sajek safely.