The Rangamati district administration has decided to reopen Sajek Valley, one of Bangladesh's most popular tourist destinations, from Thursday after keeping it closed for eight days due to adverse weather conditions.

The announcement was made through a notice issued by Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi on Wednesday afternoon.

461 stranded tourists evacuated from Sajek Valley

According to the notice, the scenic tourist destination in Baghaichhari upazila will reopen from Thursday as the overall situation has improved.

However, visitors have been urged to remain cautious during travel and strictly follow all instructions issued by the administration due to the ongoing monsoon season.

Additional District Magistrate Nishat Sharmin said the district administration has decided to reopen all tourist attractions in Rangamati from Thursday after reviewing the prevailing situation.

The district administration had suspended tourist visits to Sajek Valley from the evening of July 7 following continuous heavy rainfall, landslides and forecasts of more severe weather.

At the time, authorities said the closure had been necessary to ensure the safety of tourists and local residents amid the heightened risk of landslides and flash floods.

Welcoming the decision, Cottage and Resort Owners' Association of Sajek said this will provide much-needed relief for the local tourism-dependent economy.

It said hotels, resorts and other tourism-related businesses had suffered significant losses during the closure, expressing hope that tourist arrivals will gradually return to normal in the coming days.