Khagrachari and Rangamati face half-day road and water blockades

Half-day road and water transport blockades are underway in the Khagrachari and Rangamati districts of Bangladesh. The protests, called by the Chhatra-Janata Sangram Parishad, began at 5:00 AM on Saturday to protest alleged attacks on protesters, physical assaults, and the destruction of homes and shops in the Sajek area.

Demonstrators have used burning tires and felled trees to obstruct major routes, including the Chittagong-Khagrachari highway and the Khagrachari-Rangamati road. While some local auto-rickshaws continue to operate, long-distance bus services from Khagrachari have been suspended, causing significant inconvenience to travelers.

The unrest follows clashes on Thursday in the Ujo Bazar area of Sajek, where gunfire occurred during a confrontation between protesters and law enforcement. Following these incidents, the Rangamati district administration temporarily closed the Sajek tourist center and ordered tourists to leave the area due to security risks. Approximately 2,933 tourists were escorted to Khagrachari town by security forces. The blockades have also impacted the local tourism industry, with reports of widespread cancellations for hotels, resorts, and transport services.