Photo: Collected
A total of 288 tourists visited Sajek Valley on Tuesday (5 November) in Rangamati after long-time restrictions on the most awaited tourist spot in the country. The local administration reopened the Khagrachhari to Sajek Valley road communication for tourists from Tuesday.
Mohammad Mosharaf Hossain Khan, deputy commissioner of Rangamati, told The Daily Messenger that they permitted the tourists to visit Sajek Valley from Tuesday.
“A total 288 tourists visited Sajek Valley on Tuesday after it opened after 45 days,” he said.
The local administration imposed restrictions on tourists visiting Sajek Valley on September 25 due to violence in Khagrachhari and Rangamati on September 19 and 20. The violence was expanded to a complete tourism pause on October 8 across all three hill districts.
Purna Baran Chakma, the owner of Girichhya Resort at Sajek Valley, told The Daily Messenger that tourists were booking resorts for visiting Sajek.
A total of 200 cottages and resorts were serving tourists at the Sajek which remained idle for the last 45 days as the administration imposed restrictions, he said. The loss of tourism business at Sajek of the last 45 days would be worth Tk 10 crore,” he added.
Md Arefin Jewel, superintendent of Khagrachhari district police, told The Daily Messenger that they took proper security measures in Khagrachhari district and were getting good response from the tourists. "Bangladesh Army ensures security to the tourists from Khagrachhari to Sajek Valley," the SP informed.
Ananta Bikash Tripura, general secretary of the Khagrachari Residential Hotel Owners Association, said that they hoped again for the tourism business at the Sajek Valley. “Many people's livelihood depended on the tourism sector here. With the halt in tourist activity, many became unemployed. The reopening brings relief and hope for recovery,” he said.
Messenger/Sarwar/Fameema
