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.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions that may trigger landslides in five districts. According to a special bulletin of Met office, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall as the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over east central Bay and adjoining area moved North-Northeastwards over the same area. Also Read: Met office predicts rain or thundershowers in Dhaka, other divisions Due to very heavy rainfall landslides may occur in the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarbans, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram, it said.

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to take steps to close down all unauthorised brick kilns in three hill districts (Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati) within seven days. The HC bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Fatema Najib passed the order following a writ petition filed by Environment and Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a human rights organization. The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the respondents in shutting down the unauthorised brick kilns in the three hill districts should not be declared illegal. Apart from it, the HC issued another rule asking the authorities concerned why directives should not be given to take steps against owners of the unlicensed brick kilns under section 4,5,14 and 18 of Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act-2013. READ: HC orders to audit Evaly's assets by a reputed firm Twenty four people including the Secretary to the Environment and Forest Ministry, Director General of Department of Environment  (DoE), DCs of the three hill districts, police supers of the three districts have been made respondentsTwenty-four to the rule. Advocate Manzil Murshid stood for the writ petitioner while deputy attorney general Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state. According to the writ, many brick kilns are operating in the three hill districts without liscence and they use the mud of the hill as raw material. Besides, many trees are being used as firewood.  The report on brick kilns was carried out in the different daily newspapers, it said. READ: Stop taking extra fares on public transport, HC asks BRTA Manzil Murshid also said “No brick kilns are allowed to operate without liscence according to the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act-2013. There is a provision of two years jail for violating the law. Despite it, brick kilns are being established and the local administration is not taking any steps in this regard.”