Usually vibrant with tourists during public holidays, the popular tourist destinations in the three hill districts now wear a desolate look after a recent directive by the authorities discouraging people from visiting the region. Tourism businesses in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari are set to suffer huge losses as all bookings have been cancelled due to the restriction. District administrations asked people not to visit the hill districts from October 8 to31 citing “unavoidable reasons”, including safety concerns and the impact of recent natural disasters. Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan said the decision was made to ensure the safety of tourists, with hopes that the situation will normalise by the end of the month. “We have urged tourists not to visit Rangamati during this period. Later, travel can resume as usual,” he said. The travel restriction came at a particularly difficult time for the tourism sector. Hotel and resort operators had received advanced bookings for the Durga Puja holiday, the biggest religious festival of Hindus. Read: Government announces programs to mark World Tourism Day tomorrow However, he is optimistic that easing the restrictions could help the tourism sector recover from this crisis. “We are facing a major crisis,” said Ramzan Ali, a leaseholder at the boat dock operated by the Rangamati Parjatan Corporation. “The scenic Hanging Bridge was submerged due to recent rains and floods, and now we have this travel ban. We don't know how we will survive.” Md. Sultan, manager of Hotel Square Park, echoed similar concerns saying, “All the bookings have been canceled, and our hotels are empty. Normally, we are fully booked at this time of year,” he said. Local tourism associations have expressed deep concern over the economic impact of the travel ban. Ten organizations, including the Rangamati Resort Owners’ Association, the Houseboat Owners’ Association, and the Residential Hotel Owners’ Association, submitted a memorandum to the district administration calling for the government to lift the ban immediately. “We are facing severe uncertainty regarding our livelihoods. The ban sends a highly negative message to tourists and threatens to push the developing tourism sector in these regions to the brink of collapse,” they said in the memorandum. Read more: Sunamganj tourism suffers Tk 50 crore loss amid floods and ongoing situation Ten organizations, including the Rangamati Resort Owners’ Association, the Houseboat Owners’ Association, and the Hotel Owners’ Association, submitted a memorandum to the district administration calling for the government to lift the ban immediately. “We are facing severe uncertainty regarding our livelihoods. The ban sends a highly negative message to tourists and threatens to push the developing tourism sector in these regions to the brink of collapse,” they said in the memorandum. Adviser to Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Supradip Chakma recently said the ban would be lifted soon. “We are in talks with the Home Affairs adviser, and a decision will be announced shortly,” he said.

The Rangamati District Administration has issued a directive discouraging tourists from visiting Sajek Valley starting October 4 until further notice, due to ongoing concerns regarding law and order in the region. In a letter signed by Rangamati Additional District Magistrate Md Saiful Islam, the administration emphasized the need to prioritize the safety of tourists, citing the overall security situation in Sajek and its surrounding areas of Baghaichhari upazila. This decision comes in light of recent unrest in Khagrachhari and Rangamati, which has raised significant safety concerns. Read: Tourists discouraged from visiting Sajek till Sept 30 Earlier, the administration had already extended the travel discouragement period for tourists from September 28 to September 30, and again from October 1 to October 3. The situation has become increasingly critical, with reports indicating that around 1,500 tourists and 500 drivers and staff were recently stranded in Sajek Valley due to a blockade prompted by local unrest. This disruption has resulted in significant challenges, including shortages of essential supplies like drinking water, gas, and food. In response to these difficulties, resort owners have been offering discounts of up to 75% to accommodate stranded tourists. However, considering the prevailing circumstances, the administration has determined that discouraging further travel to Sajek is a necessary precaution. Read more: 1400 tourists stranded in Sajek return to Khagrachhari with army’s help Tourists are urged to stay updated on the situation and consider alternate destinations for their travel plans until the administration provides further guidance. The Rangamati district administration said it will ensure the safety and security of all visitors.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh today (November 28, 2023) signed a $90 million loan agreement to develop infrastructure and systems that will provide clean drinking water and sanitation services in Bandarban, Lama, and Rangamati towns in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) region. Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Edimon Ginting, Country Director, ADB, signed the loan agreement on behalf of Bangladesh and ADB, respectively, at a ceremony at ERD in Dhaka. “We are pleased to support the government in pursuing inclusive and climate-resilient development by providing clean drinking water and sanitation services and improving solid waste management in the lagging Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) region,” said ADB Country Director Ginting. Read more: Latest ADB report predicts a better year for Bangladesh in FY2024 “The improved services will reduce the risks of water-borne diseases, enhance health and economic opportunities, and benefit women who spend considerable productive time daily collecting water and managing wastes,” he said. The Chattogram Hill Tracts Inclusive and Resilient Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project will develop water treatment plants with a total capacity of 44 million liters per day in Bandarban, Lama, and Rangamati towns, as well as 24 km of transmission line and 340 km of new water distribution network to connect to households. In Bandarban and Lama, the project will also modernize sanitation and solid waste management systems through rehabilitated public toilets and the provision of vehicles to safely de-sludge fecal sludge and collect solid waste integrated with a geographic information system, and equip household waste bins with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to track waste collection. The project will also develop two integrated waste management facilities to treat and manage fecal sludge and solid waste, said the regional development bank. To maximize impact and sustainability, a community awareness and behavior change campaign on water, sanitation, hygiene, climate resilience, and solid waste management will be conducted. The campaign will target 100,000 people, with at least 60 percent participation from women and the vulnerable population. Around 300 staff (at least 90 percent of the eligible women staff) of the Department of Public Health Engineering, hill district councils, and municipalities will be trained on climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable water supply, sanitation, and solid waste management service delivery. The project will also enhance the readiness for implementation of future investments in water supply and sanitation for 31 towns by preparing feasibility studies, detailed designs, and bidding documents following approaches that promote disaster and climate resilience as well as gender equity and social inclusion. Read more: In another first, PM Hasina opens Ctg-Cox's Bazar railway line

After a month and half of staying closed following inundation, the iconic hanging bridge on Kaptai Lake, known as a “symbol of Rangamati”, has opened to tourists and visitors. The local administration withdrew the ban on tourist movement on the bridge on Friday (October 20, 2023) after the water receded. Several lakh tourists from across the country and abroad come to Rangamati every year and the hanging bridge is a must-see attraction. During monsoon, the district administration restricts the movement of tourists on Kaptai Lake hanging bridge due to inundation every year. Water transports banned in Kaptai Lake On September 3, the local administration suspended movement on the bridge in Rangamati as it went under water following a rise in water level in the lake due to heavy rain. Water level rises in Kaptai lake after heavy rains; power generation increased

Rangamati district administration has restricted the movement of tourists on Kaptai Lake hanging bridge in Rangamati as it went under water following the rise in water level of in the lake amid heavy rain. During a visit to the Kaptai lake area on Sunday morning, this correspondent found that six inches of the bridge above the Kaptai lake was inundated.Ramjan Ali, who provides rented boat service under Tourism Corporation, said due to the closure of the bridge above the Kaptai Lake they are passing idle time. 3-month ban on fishing, tourism in Sundarbans begins on June 1Alok Bikash Chakma, manager of Rangamati Tourism Corporation, said the authorities closed the entrance gate of the bridge from Sunday morning as the slab of the bridge went under water following the rise in water level in the Kaptai Lake to avoid risks. Tourism banned again in Bandarban's 3 upazilasThe bridge will be reopened for tourists if the water level of the lake drops, he said.Tourism banned again in Bandarban's Thanchi

A member of the United People's Democratic Front's (UPDF) was shot to death allegedly by miscreants at Sapchhari in Sadar upazila of Rangamati district on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Rupanta Chakma alias Leja Chakma, 47, collector of UPDF and son of Laxmi Chandra Chakma of Shimultoli village in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachari district. Rafiqul Amin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said the miscreants opened fire on Leja Chakma while he was going to work around 8:30 am. Also read: Two Jubo League activists shot in Rupganj On information, a team of police left for the place to recover the body. The UPDF have not given their official reaction to the killing yet, but some of their  men blamed Jana Sanghati Samity, although it wasn't clear if they meant the PCJSS led by Santu Larma or the splinter group JSS (Reformist).  

A Rangamati court on Tuesday sent 44 suspected members of militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya, who were arrested in different anti-militant drives in the district, to jail in separate cases. The court also put five members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) on a five-day remand. Rangamati Senior Judicial Magistrate Swarna Komol passed the order when police produced 49 members of Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) before the court. Also Read: Nayeb-e-Amir of militant group Jama'atul Ansar arrested from Dhaka’s Sayedabad: CTTC Earlier in the day, the militants were taken to the court amid tight security. Also Read: 12 militants, 14 KNF members arrested so far in anti-militancy drive in Bandarban: RAB   Law enforcers conducted separate drives in the hilly areas of Rangamati and Bandarban districts and arrested 50 militants Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and KNF members recently.        

Members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and the JSS (Santu Larma) group are locked in an armed battle in Rangamati's Baghaichhari upazila. Baghaichhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahadat Hossain confirmed the development. The JSS led by Santu Larma is the group with which the government signed the CHT Peace Accord of 1997. The UPDF came into being a year later with an official position expressing 'skepticism' of the accord, and advocating full autonomy. According to the locals, the gunfight started on Sunday evening and continued at high intensity for about 45 minutes, in which both sides exchanged approximately 350 to 400 rounds of bullets. Intermittent gunshots are still being heard till the filing of this report. The sound of the gunshots created panic among the people of the area. However, no casualties were reported. Three firing incidents happened at the same place in the last month. Meanwhile, the UPDF coordinator of the Sajek region, Argent Chakma, said some 30 to 35 armed cadres of JSS started firing on UPDF activists suddenly, but then fled when UPDF responded. Trideep Chakma, a leader of the JSS Santu Larma party, could not be reached for comments on the incident despite several attempts. Read more: UPDF man gunned down in Rangamati  

The Election Commission will purchase paper from the state-owned Karnaphuli Paper Mills (KPM) ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. AKM Anisuzzaman, managing director of KMP, said EC collected paper from the mill for use as ballot paper in the national election. The EC has sent a letter seeking 700 mt of paper and those will be provided to the EC in time as per their demand, he said. Read more: Production at Karnaphuli Paper Mills resumes after 25 days Sources said paper in three colours -- yellow, blue and pink -- are needed for ballot paper. This year the KMP will provide the colour papers as per the demand of the EC. Papers of KPM are also supplied to different government organisations and universities. Besides, the government is using the paper of KPM in textbooks, provided to students for free. Read More: EVM purchasing suspended, not cancelled: EC secretary Despite some limitations, KPM, since 75 years of its establishment, has been providing high-quality paper to different organisations due to its huge demand.

Chattogram's Rangamati has many houseboats – big and small. The double-decker wooden houseboat "Royal Adventure'' recently entered the fray in the district's Kaptai Lake. "It is the largest houseboat in Rangamati and has eight rooms. Of them, two rooms are 'super premium' ones with balconies," Royal Adventure CEO Md Mohiuddin Majumder Ananda said. "Each room has washroom facilities. Four people can stay in each room. We have our restaurant on board where local and traditional dishes are served. If a tourist wants, all arrangements can be made according to his needs because the kitchen is on our boat." Royal Adventure Director Farooq said: "Since all usual tourist spots of Rangamati are situated on the banks of Kaptai Lake, tourists can visit them by boat. There is no need for a tourist to book a separate resort as there is an overnight stay facility." "Tourists will get all the facilities – room stay, dining and sightseeing – from one boat."  Read more: J-K administration organizes craft safari tour to boost Kashmir art, handlooms