Rahul Chakma John, organizational secretary of the Sajek Cottage Owners Association, confirmed this information on Wednesday (July 8).
He said that due to heavy rainfall, the Machalong road in Sajek has been submerged, halting vehicular movement. If the water recedes by the afternoon, arrangements will be made to send the stranded tourists to Khagrachhari Sadar.
Rahul Chakma further said that due to the situation, no room rent is currently being charged from the stranded tourists.
Earlier, due to adverse weather and inclement conditions, the Rangamati district administration announced the temporary closure of all tourist centers in Sajek for an indefinite period. At the same time, a ban on traveling to Sajek was imposed in the interest of tourist safety.
In an emergency public notice signed by District Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi on Tuesday (July 7) evening, it was stated that according to the forecast of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, continuous heavy rainfall has created risks of landslides and hill collapses in various areas of Rangamati. Additionally, road communication has been disrupted in several places.
The public notice said that until further orders, entry of tourists, travel operators, and the general public to all tourist centers, waterfalls, hilly paths, remote areas, and other risky places in Sajek Valley will remain completely prohibited.
The district administration has urged everyone to refrain from traveling to Sajek unless necessary until the situation returns to normal. At the same time, everyone has been requested to follow the instructions of the local administration.
