Tourists stranded at Sajek evacuated under army protection

Amid road blockades and escalating violence in Khagrachari, over 2,000 tourists stranded in Sajek have been safely escorted back to the district headquarters under the protection of the army.

The evacuation began after 11:30pm on Saturday (September 27), with the tourists heading towards their respective destinations.

Earlier in the day, the army initiated efforts to bring the tourists from Sajek to Khagrachari. However, as clashes broke out in the city, the tourists were initially sheltered at the Dighinala army camp.

In the afternoon, once the situation showed signs of stability, they were moved to an agricultural research area. Eventually, when the situation was brought under control, the tourists' vehicles left the city under military escort.

Although the situation in the city has returned to normal, security forces have intensified patrols. Special arrangements were made for buses heading to Dhaka and Chattogram to leave.

To maintain law and order during the day, the district administration imposed Section 144 in Khagrachari Sadar and municipal areas, while deploying seven battalions of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

This unrest follows the gang rape of a Marma schoolgirl in Singinala, Khagrachari Sadar, on Tuesday, which led to mass protests starting Wednesday. These protests escalated into road blockades and rallies, culminating in a full-day strike on Saturday.