Staff Reporter:
311 more tourists stranded in Sajek Valley in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari upazila have been safely evacuated with the assistance of the Bangladesh Army.
The latest group departed Sajek for Khagrachhari under military escort at 9am on Friday (10 July), according to a source at the Baghaihat Zone.
A total of 561 tourists had been stranded in the popular hill destination following days of heavy rainfall, landslides and the disruption of road communications. On Thursday, the Army successfully escorted the first group of 150 tourists to safety.
According to the Baghaihat Zone, around 100 tourists still remain in Sajek and will be evacuated in phases as conditions permit.
On Tuesday, the Rangamati district administration issued an emergency public notice, signed by Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, declaring the indefinite closure of all tourist attractions in Sajek due to continuous rainfall, landslides and the growing risk to road connectivity.
The notice said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of tourists and local residents amid fears of landslides, hill collapses and further disruption to transport links across the district.
Following the closure, no new visitors were allowed to enter Sajek. However, hundreds of tourists who had already arrived before the restrictions came into force became stranded in the valley.
The Bangladesh Army has since been carrying out phased evacuation operations to bring the remaining visitors to safety.
