Tourists' entry to CHT restricted for security reasons

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BANDARBAN, Dec 26 (bdnews24.com): Security forces are restricting tourists' entry into remote areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) lately on security grounds.
After a weeklong sojourn into the remote hills and forests of the CHT, a huge number of local and foreign tourists were found crowding Bandarban town in the peak of the winter season.
Taking advantage of the long Eid, Christmas and New Year's holidays, they were looking to trek deeper into the hills, but were being denied entry into many parts of the CHT by security personnel.
An assistant director of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) told the news agency: "The temporary embargo on tourists' entry into remote hill areas has been imposed mainly as a security measure."
Mentioning the abduction of DANIDA official Suman Sharif -from Thanchi in Bandarban district some months back - the ISPR official said: "The restrictions have been imposed so that no such mishap should occur again in the near future."
"We have to ensure the safety of any foreign national, whether he is a tourist or on official business, whenever they move out of the district headquarters," he said.
Security officials said that local tourists were now permitted to venture out as far as the remote spots of Boga Lake and the Keokradong peak, but they too had to register their presence with army posts at Ruma Ghat, Ruma Bazar and Boga Lake.
But no tourist is permitted to visit Tajindong, Naikkhongchhari, Rongchhari and Alikadam hills at the moment.
Security officials further said at least 12 foreign guerrilla groups including the Arakan Army, National United Party of Arakan, Arakan Revolutionary International Force and Rohingya Solidarity Organisation were roaming the hills of Bandarban and abducting people for ransom.