Bandarban-Thanchi road transport halted amid extortion protests

Transportation services on the Bandarban-Thanchi road have been severely disrupted following a series of strikes by local drivers. After buses had already ceased operations for three days to protest alleged extortion by an unidentified group, jeep and Mahindra drivers joined the strike on Saturday.

The decision by the jeep and Mahindra drivers' association has effectively severed road communication between Bandarban district headquarters and Thanchi upazila. While the association stated that tourists may still travel by reserving entire vehicles, they have prohibited the transport of local residents as regular passengers.

This shutdown has caused significant hardship for local residents who rely on these vehicles for essential services, including medical care, commerce, and official business. Bus owners and drivers have maintained that they cannot meet the excessive extortion demands being made by certain parties. Local residents have called for the immediate intervention of the Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs to restore normal transportation.