Joint Mediation Team Proposed to Reopen Sajek Road, with Wadud Bhuiyan Suggested to Lead It
A security coordination meeting has been held in Khagrachhari to restore traffic on the Sajek road and ensure overall security in the area. The meeting proposed forming a high-level joint mediation team to end the suffering of local residents, businesspeople and tourists caused by the closed road. The path of dialogue is now being put forward as the main way to reopen the blocked road.
The meeting was held at 11am on Friday (24 October) in the hall room of the Khagrachhari Region. It discussed in detail the suffering of local residents, businesspeople and tourists due to the road blockade and the situation arising from it.
Representatives of the army, police, civil administration and intelligence agencies attended the meeting. Representatives of the hill district councils, the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners' Association, bus-truck and restaurant owners' associations, and people connected with the tourism sector also took part.
The meeting was told that ordinary people, businesspeople and tourists are suffering because the Sajek road remains closed due to obstruction by a regional armed group. The discussion also noted that the stalemate is directly affecting the economy of an area dependent on tourism.
It was also noted at the meeting that anger is growing among local people over this long-standing stalemate. Concern was expressed that the anger could create a situation of communal conflict — which has made the crisis all the more serious.
A specific proposal emerged at the meeting to resolve the crisis. It proposed phased talks with representatives of those blocking the road through Khagrachhari MP Wadud Bhuiyan, the Khagrachhari and Rangamati hill district councils and the civil administration.
In addition, a proposal was made to form a high-level joint mediation team to resolve the situation peacefully. The team would bring together representatives of the security forces, district councils and civil administration of Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts.
The meeting proposed that Khagrachhari MP Wadud Bhuiyan lead the proposed joint mediation team. The core idea of the proposal is to move the talks forward with the locally elected representative at the front.
Another important matter was discussed at the meeting. Talks were held on bringing the Karbari Association under accountability on allegations of holding ordinary people hostage by cutting off communication on the Sajek road and openly supporting the blockade.
Several directives were issued at the end of the meeting. Law enforcement agencies were instructed to remain maximally active to end public suffering, maintain overall security in the area and quickly restore normal traffic movement.
Tourism and local business in the Sajek area depend heavily on this road. The presence at the meeting of representatives of resort and cottage owners, transport owners and restaurant owners is proof of that dependence, and a closed road means a direct blow to all their livelihoods.
All eyes are now on the formation of the proposed joint mediation team and the phased talks. If those talks begin and progress with representatives of those enforcing the blockade, a path may open for traffic on the Sajek road to return to normal — and after the meeting's decisions, that is now what the people of the area are waiting for.
