Security concern due to unrest in the hills is seriously hampering tourism and hotel business in the districts of Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT).
The arrival of tourists in the picturesque districts nestled in the lap of nature is yet to return to normal, although tensions over the recent volatile situation here has eased.
The law and order situation in the districts deteriorated earlier following the death of a Bengali man, Md Mamun, in a mob beating on September 19 at Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari district. The district administration of Rangamati had to impose Section 144 to gard against any untoward situation.
Two days later, the Section 144 was lifted on September 22, as the law and order situation returned to normal.
However, hotel owners apprehend a big crisis as tourists were not visiting the districts that much due to security concerns.
Swapan Debnath, owner of the Aronnyo Bilas, a hotel in Khagrachhari, told the FE that they had to cancel many bookings by aspirant tourists during the violent situation. Although the situation was normal now, visitors' arrivals were still very low, he added.
Bus services with Sajek, the most popular and scenic tourist spot in the area, had been suspended for the past four days. Hoteliers there are also facing a crisis as the tourists cannot go there.
Hoteliers in Rangamati district are facing the same fate. Some hoteliers in the district told the FE that for various reasons, including recent political instability and the resultant changeover in the country, there had been irreparable losses their business suffered.
Jasim Uddin, Manager of Hotel Nadisa International in Rangamati, said that they witnessed a big fall in the number of visitors in the last week. However, the number of visitors started declining soon after the inception of the anti-discrimination students' movement in July, he added.
Visitors' entries into Rangamati hotels had been almost zero since September 20-22, as Section 144 was imposed on the town on those days following the recent conflict, he said.
Meanwhile, Sergeant Hamid, manager of the Lakeshore Resort in Kaptai, told the FE that the recent conflict didn't impact their business as the path to go to their resort was different from the restive area.
However, visitors' access to scenic spots of Bandarban has been restricted since April this year after a Sonali Bank official’s abduction. Although he was rescued safely later, the restriction has not been lifted till today.
Shiblul Azam Koreshi, Immediate Past President of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), expressed his hope that the government would take immediate steps to ensure security of the travellers in the area.
He further said, "This deadlock situation is harmful not only for the hoteliers, but also for the local ethnic groups. They are selling their agro-products either at lower prices or those are going to waste because of the absence of visitors in the area. So the government should take immediate steps to overcome the stalemate."
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