Khagrachari has been closed for domestic and long-distance traffic since Saturday morning due to a 72-hour blockade. However, no picketing and untoward incidents were reported anywhere in the district headquarters. Army, police, BGB were seen patrolling since morning. In a joint statement, owners and workers called for an indefinite transport strike to protest the vandalism of buses, CNG, auto-rickshaws, trucks and injuries to workers in the Rangamati clash on Friday. Meanwhile, due to transport strike and blockade in three hill districts, more than 800 tourists have been stranded in Rangamati.
Jumma students called for blockade of roads and waterways in Khagrachari and Rangamati from a rally in the capital Dhaka on Friday. The regional organization United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) has announced a blockade in support of the program.
Khagrachari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Baten Mridha said that the night coaches from Dhaka entered the city around 7:30 in the morning. Additional security measures have been taken to maintain law and order situation.
Meanwhile, tourists visiting Khagrachari have suffered due to the blockade. All vehicles to Sajeke are closed. Md. Arif, lineman of Sajek Counter of Khagrachari Jeep Owners Association, said that 80 cars went to Sajek from Khagrachari on Friday. Md. Yashin Arafat, the lineman of the jeep, said that the blockaders set fire to different parts of the road on the call of the UPDF blockade. I have heard that the pavements have been removed from the Bailey bridges. In this situation, vehicles carrying tourists are dangerous. So no vehicle from the association returned from Sajek.
Leaders of the Khagrachari road transport owners group said that we have stopped the bus service due to insecurity. Workers and drivers feel insecure due to violence in various places.
It is to be noted that Md. Mamun was beaten to death in Khagrachari Sadar on Wednesday morning after accusing him of theft. As a result of this incident, three people were killed and several others were injured in an unpleasant incident in Dighinala and Khagrachari Sadar. Hundreds of shops were burnt in Dighinala. Later, the violence spread to Rangamati district along with some upazilas of Khagrachari.
More than 800 tourists have been stranded in the three hill districts of Chittagong due to the 72-hour blockade.
On Saturday (September 21), they were stranded while traveling. Earlier on Friday, the tourists who visited Saje could not return.
It is known that the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) has called for a blockade since morning. After the blockade was called, all long-distance as well as internal traffic stopped in Rangamati and Khagrachari.
Sajek Cottage Owners Association President Suparna Dev Barman said that more than eight hundred tourists are trapped in Sajek due to the blockade. Basically, those who went to Sajek from Khagrachari on Friday, are stuck there. They will be brought back if the situation improves.
Rangamati Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shirin Akhtar said that due to the security risk due to the blockade, tourists were not allowed to leave any vehicles. Tourists are stranded in Saje. Further action will be taken depending on the situation.