CHT civil society org condemns Sajek blockade, calls for joint operation against armed groups
PCNCP Urges Security Drive After Sajek Blockade Disrupts Tourism
Bdbusinessdaily.com – The Parbatya Chattogram Nagorik Parishad has called for a broad, army-led joint operation in the Chattogram Hill Tracts after renewed unrest and blockades in Sajek Valley raised concerns about public safety, travel and the local tourism economy.
In a statement issued on 25 October, the civil society organisation condemned the shutdown in Sajek and rejected what it described as efforts to spread misleading claims about the Bangladesh Army. The release was signed by PCNCP Chairman Md Abdul Hamid Rana and Secretary General Mohammad Solaiman.
The organisation called on authorities to seize illegal firearms, address armed activity and restore normal conditions across the hill region. It argued that continued disruption could cause serious damage to Sajek, a destination whose visitors depend on open roads, a stable security situation and uninterrupted access to accommodation and services.
Claims of Rivalry and Territorial Control
The PCNCP alleged that the United People's Democratic Front and the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti were involved in competing efforts to expand their influence in Sajek. It said the dispute centred on territorial dominance and alleged extortion income, while placing residents, travellers and tourism-related businesses under pressure.
Those claims have been presented by the PCNCP, which said clashes between the groups were linked to changing control over different parts of the area. The organisation stated that UPDF had long held greater influence in Sajek, but alleged that PCJSS had gained control over most locations during recent months.
It said the resulting rivalry had created an increasingly unstable environment and warned that blockades could push Sajek’s tourism sector toward collapse. Tourism is especially vulnerable to road closures because visitors, hotel operators, transport providers and small businesses all rely on predictable movement in and out of the valley.
Blockade Timeline
The PCNCP said UPDF announced a blockade in Sajek’s Ujobaazar area and mobilised supporters, including both men and women, in an attempt to force PCJSS from the locality. It alleged that the Sajek Gono Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association, described by the PCNCP as UPDF-linked bodies, also participated in the programme.
The statement said the shutdown ran from 11 October through 15 October. It was then paused between 16 and 21 October during Durga Puja celebrations before returning on 22 October.
On the morning the blockade resumed, tourists leaving Sajek were allegedly stopped by protesters. The PCNCP further alleged that armed people fired shots during the incident, saying the firing was intended to protect tourists and army personnel. It also claimed that members of the security forces suffered injuries after stones and bricks were thrown at them.
These assertions remain allegations made in the PCNCP release. The organisation used the incident to renew its demand for action against armed groups operating in the hill districts.
“The PCNCP urged the authorities to launch a comprehensive joint operation under army leadership against the armed groups, recover illegal weapons and restore law and order.”
Wider Disruption in Rangamati and Khagrachhari
The statement also addressed a half-day road and waterway blockade called on 24 October in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts. The action was announced by the Chhatra-Janata Sangram Parishad, which the PCNCP characterised as another organisation affiliated with UPDF.
The group cited allegations that protesters had been attacked in Sajek. PCNCP condemned the wider shutdown and maintained that public blockades should not be used to advance armed or political competition in an area that depends heavily on safe transport links.
Road and waterway disruptions can have effects beyond tourism. They can delay routine journeys, complicate access to markets and interrupt travel for people moving between communities in the hill districts. In Sajek, where visitors commonly travel through routes connected to Khagrachhari and Rangamati, uncertainty over access can quickly lead travellers to cancel plans.
Appeal to Protect Sajek’s Tourism Economy
The PCNCP appealed to the public to oppose attempts to undermine tourism in Sajek. Its statement framed the valley’s tourism trade as a shared local interest that could be harmed by recurring shutdowns, armed confrontations and competing claims of authority.
The organisation also criticised what it called a disinformation campaign targeting the army. It said security operations should focus on recovering unauthorised weapons and preventing armed actors from destabilising the region.
For travellers and businesses, the immediate concern is whether routes remain open and whether conditions allow normal movement. For residents, the broader issue is the restoration of dependable law and order without further disruption to daily life. The PCNCP’s call for a coordinated operation reflects its view that a sustained response is needed to prevent blockades and armed rivalry from further damaging Sajek and the wider Chattogram Hill Tracts.
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