As part of security measures in Bandarban, one of the three constituent districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the administration has imposed an indefinite ban on tourism at Rowangchhari and Ruma upazilas. A public notice in this regard was issued by Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (routine duty) Md Lutfor Rahman on Sunday requesting tourists to not travel to these upazilas until further notice. However the tourists will be able to travel freely in other upazilas of Bandarban, said the notice. Read more: Bandarban: Ban on tourism in 3 upazilas extended till Dec 11 Earlier on December 3, the travel ban in three upazilas of the district Ruma, Rowangchhari, and Thanchi was extended till December 11. This is the eleventh consecutive time that such restriction has been extended for the safety of tourists amid an anti-militancy drive in the district's remote areas. Earlier, the local administration lifted the restriction from Alikadam upazila and Thanchi upazila on November 12 and November 16, respectively – before imposing it again in Thanchi. Read more: Ban on tourism in parts of Bandarban extended till Dec 4 Law enforcement agencies started a joint drive against the underground extremists and criminals in the district on October 10.

Bandarban district administration has further extended the temporary ban on tourism in Ruma, Rowangchhari, and Thanchi upazilas till November 12 as part of high security measure while lifted it from Alikadam upazila. A public notice regarding the extension and withdrawal of the ban was issued from Bandarban Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday evening following a letter from Bandarban Cantonment. Due to the improvement in security situation the restriction has been lifted from Alikadam upazila, said the notice signed by Yasmin Parvin Tibriji, Bandarban Deputy Commissioner. Read more: Ban on tourism in Bandarban extended till Nov 8 Meanwhile, the travel ban on domestic and foreign tourists has been extended in the three upazilas as the law enforcement agencies will continue intelligence activities against suspected militants, said the notice. The administration imposed the temporary restriction on visitors in Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas on October 18. Later on October 23, the local administration discouraged tourists from traveling to Thanchi and Alikadam upazilas due to the same reason. The restriction was extended on October 19 and November 4. Read more: 230 ethnic minority families to get ‘Machang Ghar’ in Bandarban under Ashrayan scheme From October 10, law enforcement agencies started a joint drive against the underground extremists and criminals in the district. So far, seven militants and three local criminals have been arrested with local arms from forested hills of Bandarban and Rangamati during the operations.