Tensions have escalated at Sajek in Rangamati amid ‘exchange of gunfire’ between two rival groups, forcing the authorities to impose travel restriction at the tourist location for Wednesday. Some 500 tourists have been stranded in the area due to the gunfight. Additional District Magistrate of Rangamati Zobaida Akter issued the restriction through a press release on Tuesday night. Protest held outside Indian Mission in Khulna over Agartala attack Local people said the exchange of gunfire started between activists of Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) in Sajek and Machalong areas few days back but it intensified on Tuesday. No vehicles with tourists left for Sajek on Tuesday afternoon. Motijoy Tripura, joint general secretary of Sajek Resort Owners Association, said gunfight took place at Shippara under no 7 ward in Sajek and Machalong area , 20 kilometers away from the Sajek valley. 1030 mts rice imported from India thru Benapole in one week Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan, deputy commissioner of Rangamati district, said considering the safety of  tourists, the local administration imposed a travel ban for Wednesday. Further decisions will be taken considering the situation.

The tourism restriction in Sajek valley and Khagrachhari, imposed for over a month, has been lifted on Tuesday. Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Md. Shahiduzzaman confirmed the matter. He said all tourist centres in the district are now accessible, with Sajek Valley reachable via the Khagrachhari district road. This reopening is expected to revitalise tourism in the area, benefiting businesses that rely heavily on visitors. Tourists discouraged from visiting Sajek Valley until further notice The restriction, initially enforced on September 25 due to violence in Khagrachhari and Rangamati on September 19 and 20, was expanded to a complete tourism pause on October 8 across all three hill districts. This prolonged closure placed immense strain on the local economy, particularly for those in tourism. The Sajek Cottage Owners Association reported that their 120 resorts and cottages were mostly empty, with many employees forced to leave due to lack of work. Losses to the sector are estimated around Tk 15 crore. Ananta Bikash Tripura, general secretary of the Khagrachhari Residential Hotel Owners Association, welcomed the reopening. "Many people’s lives are tied to the tourism sector here. With the halt in tourist activity, many became unemployed. The reopening brings relief and hope for recovery.”

A tourist was killed and seven others were injured when a ‘Chander Gari’( a vehicle that usually carries tourists) fell into a ditch while returning from Sajek on Friday. The deceased was identified as Fardin Hasan Bishal, 35, hailing from Dhaka's Shyampur. The identities of the injured could not be confirmed immediately. The accident occurred around 5pm when the Chander Gari reached Khasrang Hill Resort area from Sajek’s Konglak Hill, overturned and fell into a ditch, said Nurul Alam, officer-in-charge of Sajek Police Station. Later, a team of Bangladesh Army and police rescued the injured people and took them to Dighinala Upazila Health Complex for treatment, added the OC. The rescue operation is still going on till the filing of this report at 7:15pm.

Baghaichari upazila administration in Rangamati has restricted tourism at Sajek Valley on February 6 and 7 ahead of the seventh phase Union Parishad elections. “As  Sajek Union Parishad election is set to be held on February 7 all kinds of vehicle movement except those to be used for election purpose will remain suspended in the area and  tourist movement will also remain halted. The resort owners' association has been asked to shut the cottages and resorts in Sajek for the two days,” said Shariful Islam, Baghaichari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). READ: 2 killed in JSS-UPDF gunfight in Rangamati To avoid any kind of risk and unwanted situation centering the polls the administration has taken the decision, he said. Jerry Lusai,Generel Secretary of Sajek Cottage  Owners' Association, said they have received a notice from the administration in this regard on Friday and directed the owners under the association accordingly. READ: JSS leader shot dead in Rangamati Elections  are set to be held in some Union Parishads of the three upazilas in Rangamati district on February 7.

Located in the hills of the Rangamati district, Sajek is one of the most scenic tourist destinations in Bangladesh. It is also the largest union in Bangladesh with an area of over 702 square miles. Sajek Valley is like the heaven of greenery. The clouds touch the mountain tops to make a unique experience for the tourists. It is something to experience first-hand to understand the true beauty. The easy access and natural beauty made Sajek valley an ideal retreat. To make the trip even more memorable, there are some incredible resorts and hotels in the area. Check them out before the next trip.  Read Wanderlust Bucket List: Top 10 Places to Visit in Your Post-Covid Vacations Mindblowing hilltop resorts, cottages for spending vacation in Sajek Sajek Hill View Resort  The Hill View resort is situated in the Ruilui area of Sajek valley. Nestled atop a hill, the resort has some of the most impressive views and experiences of Sajek. Imagine waking up in the morning to see the sunrise or touch the clouds. The hill view resort offers it all.  There are a total of 8 rooms in the two-storied resort. Rooms are a combination of double and couples ones. Every room comes with an attached balcony and bath facilities. The resort has an in-house restaurant that serves local delicacies like bamboo chicken and bashkorol.  The price of the rooms varies from 4000 BDT to 6000 BDT depending on the season and occupancy rate. Online booking can be done through their official website. Read Visa Free Country List for Bangladeshi Passport Holders in 2021 MeghKabbo Hilltop Cottage  Beyond the professional amenities of hotels and resorts, cottages provide a more cozy and rustic experience. Meghkabbo cottage is the only hilltop cottage of Sajek valley providing a unique experience to the tourists. The cottage itself is situated in a remote area, a bit far away from the usual crams of hotels. The vintage trees and forest around give a spectacular look and feel to the place.  The cottage is perfectly complemented with incredible homestay facilities backed up with professional services. They have a range of options starting from single rooms to rooms for up to 7. The price of the rooms also varies accordingly. Their cheapest available option starts from 4000 BDT. To know more, visit their Facebook Page. Read Najmun Nahar Shohagi: Bangladeshi globe trotter aims to travel 200 countries

Hundreds of acres of reserved forest in Rangamati’s Sajek is being burned down in fire made for traditional jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation.   Jhum farming, practised in Chattogram hill tracts, requires clearing of the forest areas to sow seeds after the first considerable rainfall during April-May.   The age-old system damages biodiversity of the forest, including rare species of flora and fauna in the hill area. As a result, nature loses its balance while wild animals, birds and insects become threatened.   During a recent visit, the UNB correspondent found that the fire has spread over hundreds of acres of reserved forest and surrounding local residential areas. This is threatening biodiversity of the hill area.     Due to destruction of forest areas, the water level has gone down and there is an acute shortage of water in the hills and wells, resulting in increasing water borne diseases.