Following over a month of inactivity, the scenic tourist destinations of Khagrachari and Sajek have reopened to visitors as of today. The counters in Khagrachari town were bustling on Tuesday (5 November) with an eager influx of tourists set to explore the natural beauty of Sajek.
The reopening marks a return to Khagrachari's tourism scene, which had been paused since 8 October, much to the delight of tourists who have been awaiting the opportunity to visit.
Many tourists, accompanied by friends and family, have arrived to enjoy the serene environment.
Officials anticipate an increase in tourist numbers during the upcoming weekend, with advance bookings for Friday and Saturday already being made in hotels and cottages across Sajek and Khagrachari.
In addition to Sajek, popular spots in Khagrachari such as Alutila and the Richang Waterfall are also expected to attract visitors, bringing a hopeful resurgence to the tourism sector, according to industry stakeholders.
Rana, a tourist from Bogura, expressed his excitement, saying, "I have long wanted to travel to Sajek by bike. Today, I finally had the chance, and my friends and I are thrilled. We look forward to an enjoyable trip."
Arif Khan, a line manager at the Sajek transport counter, noted, “For the first time in one and a half months, transport on the Sajek route is operating normally. On the first day, about 25 pickups and jeeps departed for Sajek.”
Khagrachari District Commissioner Md Shahiduzzaman confirmed that security measures have been heightened to ensure the safe travel of tourists to Sajek and other parts of the district.
"We expect a substantial turnout of tourists in Khagrachari for the upcoming season," he added.
The tourism halt was initially implemented by local authorities in response to incidents of violence in Khagrachari and Rangamati during September and October, when tourists were advised to refrain from travelling to the hill tracts.
