Fresh 12-hr blockade called in Sajek

A complex situation has unfolded over the ongoing transport shutdown in Baghaichhari upazila’s Sajek, with a rival hill platform declaring a fresh dawn-to-dusk blockade on Sunday, clashing directly with another group's move to relax restrictions for the day.

The Parbatya Chattogram Rokkha Committee announced a 12-hour blockade from 6:00am to 6:00pm on Sunday, protesting armed showdowns, violence, and hostage-taking of tourists.

The counter-programme emerged shortly after the UPDF-backed Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee declared a 12-hour relaxation of its own shutdown for Sunday to facilitate the movement of essential commodities and ensure safe travel for Buddhist monks attending the sacred Kathin Chibar Dan festival.

In a video statement on Friday night, Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee Convener Babudhan Chakma said vehicles carrying daily essentials would operate without obstruction. He added that special arrangements were made for Buddhist monks attending the religious ceremony, provided relevant monastery authorities coordinated with the blockade leadership in advance.

However, the Parbatya Chattogram Rokkha Committee countered the move through a press release issued on Saturday night. The committee’s Member Secretary, Bindu Lal Chakma, stated that armed factions have continued violent rampages despite shutdowns enforced since 11 October 2026. He cited an armed drill near Bhaibonchhara Government Primary School, recent tourist harassment, and fresh gunfire at Kalabuniya on 31 October 2026 that triggered deep panic among locals.

The committee exempted ambulances carrying patients, fire service vehicles, and media transport from the blockade, but urged vehicle owners, transport workers, tourists, and general commuters to keep vehicles off the roads.

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Gunfire between PCJSS, UPDF spreads fear in Sajek

Sajek has remained cut off under a third round of an indefinite blockade enforced since 22 October 2026 by the Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association. The groups launched the movement demanding the immediate withdrawal of armed cadres belonging to the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), accusing them of creating widespread insecurity.

The protracted road shutdown has halted tourism and caused severe shortages of essential food and medicines across the valley.

Although a high-level government team sat with protest leaders at Uzo Bazar on 26 October 2026 and agreed on four of five demands, the deadlock persisted over the withdrawal of armed cadres.

Owing to the volatile security environment, the Rangamati district administration’s ban on tourist travel to Sajek Valley remains in force since 22 October 2026.