Unrest in hills: Tourism, hotel business in Rangamati at a standstill 

Parjatan Holiday Complex, a hotel in Rangamati, had bookings from aspiring tourists for 60 rooms for 19 September to 2 October. Meanwhile, the hotel got all the bookings cancelled due to the violent situation prevailing in the hill district.

Authorities of the Parjatan Holiday Complex told The Business Standard that due to the unstable situation, they are currently experiencing a daily loss of around Tk4 lakh.

Amid the volatility that erupted from the ethnic conflict in the district, coupled with a blockade and transport strike, all the 50 hotels in Rangamati are witnessing a complete halt in business, with visitor arrivals plummeting to zero.

Another tourist attraction, Kaptai Lake, is also undergoing a similar situation. Due to the dwindling number of tourists, all boats have been docked in the ghats, leaving the tourist guides without work at present.

People related to the sector are worrying about the uncertainty that persists regarding the restoration of normalcy.

Keching Marma, commercial officer of Parjatan Holiday Complex, told The Business Standard that the hanging bridge of Rangamati has remained submerged for the past one month. However, the booking of the hotel was fairly normal. 

“But after the violence on 20 September, business has come to a complete standstill.”

He added that he was not optimistic about a quick restoration of normal business activities until the current situation is resolved.

Md Fakhrul Islam, manager of Rangamati Boat Ghat, said when the situation was normal, 25 boats used to ply Kaptai Lake every day at the hanging bridge ghat, accumulating an average income of Tk80,000.

Many hoteliers in the district told TBS that due to various reasons, including recent political instability, change of government in the country, there has been irreparable loss in their business. 

Meanwhile, the conflict in Rangamati has come as a fresh blow to the tourism business in the district.

Consequently, it has become very difficult for hoteliers to pay their bank loans as they are currently unable to withdraw their investments due to the prevailing instability in the hills, they said.

Niaz Ahmed, proprietor of Hotel Square Park, told TBS that his hotel can accommodate up to 200 visitors. But all rooms are currently vacant, resulting in a daily loss of Tk22,000.

“I am not sure when the booking will start. We expect the administration to quickly improve the unstable situation,” Niaz said.

Shops yet to reopen after Section 144 withdrawal

Most of the shops in Rangamati have not yet reopened following the withdrawal of Section 144 in the municipality that remained in effect for two days since Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan said the restriction was lifted at 11am on Sunday, and the situation has improved. 

However, business leaders said the withdrawal of Section 144 had failed to ensure normalcy as road blockades were still in place. Normalcy may return once the 72-hour blockade (enforced by the UPDF) comes to an end on Monday, they said.

General Secretary of BM Shopping Complex at Banarupa Bazar, Liton Jahan told TBS that many shops were vandalised and torched during the violence on 20 September, and as many as 3,000 small and big shops suffered losses.

However, the shops are gradually opening following the withdrawal of Section 144 on Sunday, he said.

Liton added that the district administration had assured that the affected business people would be given compensation. “A list of the affected traders is being prepared.” 

Visiting today, this correspondent found most of the shops at Banarupa Bazar closed, and the few that had reopened were devoid of any customers.

Another market in the municipality, Tabalchari, is also facing the same situation. Trading in the market has remained halted for the past three days.

Tabalchari Bazar Traders Association General Secretary Mohamad Iqbal Karim told TBS that trading in the market has come to a complete standstill due to non-availability of raw materials from the hills.

In addition, trucks carrying goods have remained stranded at Rangamati municipality truck terminal for the past two days. Amid the blockade, boats carrying fruit could not be unloaded, causing damage to the goods.

Visiting the municipality truck terminal today, workers were seen loading some trucks with goods. Traders said the stranded trucks will leave for their destinations with the help of the administration.  

Mohammad Murad, joint secretary of Rangamati Seasonal Traders Association, told TBS that at normal times 50 to 80 truckloads of goods move from Rangamati to various regions, including Chattogram, every day. As the truck movement has remained halted for the past two years, the goods loaded in boats are getting damaged. 

He added that some vehicles were expected to leave the town today with the help of the administration.