Tourist visits to Sajek Valley in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari upazila have been suspended indefinitely following a blockade called by two local organisations, with the district administration keeping the restriction in place even after the protest was withdrawn.

The blockade, called by the Sajek Gonoadhikar Rakkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association, began on Sunday morning, disrupting traffic on the Sajek-Dighinala road and leaving many tourists stranded.

The organisations withdrew the blockade on Sunday afternoon following discussions with the administration. However, the district administration subsequently announced the closure of the popular tourist destination until further notice, citing “unavoidable reasons”.

Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, a BNP lawmaker from Khagrachhari, told BBC Bangla that the decision was taken with security concerns in mind, as tensions had been reported in the area in recent days.

The two organisations have accused the Santu Larma-led faction of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) of engaging in armed activities, extortion and intimidation of local residents in Sajek. They said they had suspended their protest for 48 hours after receiving assurances from the administration regarding their demands.

The allegations could not be independently verified, and the JSS’s response was not available. A JSS leader, however, told a national newspaper that the accusations against the organisation were unfounded.

Bhuiyan said no specific decision had been communicated to him regarding a possible security operation against either group. He added that the final decision rested with the law enforcement agencies.

In an emergency notice issued on Sunday evening, the district administration said Sajek Valley would remain closed from 6pm until further notice. Tourists staying in the area were instructed to leave by 5pm on Tuesday (13 October) and return safely to their respective destinations.

Mohammad Ruhul Amin, additional deputy commissioner of Rangamati, confirmed the directive to BBC Bangla.

Rahul Chakma John, organisational secretary of the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners Association, told BBC Bangla on Monday that around 1,000 tourists were still in the area in the morning but were expected to leave by the afternoon.

He said there was no clear timeline for reopening Sajek, noting that previous closures linked to tensions between the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) and the JSS had lasted anywhere from two or three days to 10 or 15 days.

Local residents told BBC Bangla that disputes over control of the growing tourism business and alleged extortion from resorts could be contributing to the tensions. Sajek has expanded into a major tourist destination in recent years, with more than 100 resorts and cottages.

Some residents, speaking anonymously, alleged that individual resorts pay between Tk 50,000 and Tk 1 lakh a month in extortion. These allegations could not be independently verified.

Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi told BBC Bangla that the administration’s notice cited unavoidable reasons and did not explicitly mention a security threat.

The closure has raised concerns among tourism businesses, which say recurring disruptions often coincide with the peak tourist season.