The tourism restriction in Sajek valley and Khagrachhari, imposed for over a month, has been lifted on Tuesday.
Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Md Shahiduzzaman confirmed the information to UNB.
He said all tourist centres in the district are now accessible, with Sajek Valley reachable via the Khagrachhari district road. This reopening is expected to revitalise tourism in the area, benefiting businesses that rely heavily on visitors.
The restriction, initially enforced on September 25 due to violence in Khagrachhari and Rangamati on September 19 and 20, was expanded to a complete tourism pause on October 8 across all three hill districts.
This prolonged closure placed immense strain on the local economy, particularly for those in tourism.
According to the Sajek Cottage Owners' Association, there are 116 hotels, resorts, and cottages in Sajek, along with over 14 restaurants.
Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners' Association President Suparno Dev Barman told Dhaka Tribune they incurred losses of approximately Tk8-9 crore over the past month and a half.
Rangamati Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan said the advisory on tourism in Rangamati has now been lifted.
He assured that there are no security concerns at present.
Ananta Bikash Tripura, general secretary of the Khagrachhari Residential Hotel Owners Association, welcomed the reopening.
"Many people’s lives are tied to the tourism sector here. With the halt in tourist activity, many became unemployed. The reopening brings relief and hope for recovery,” he told UNB.
The advisory was initially issued following a communal clash that erupted on September 18 after the murder of a young man named Mamun in Khagrachhari.
The unrest spread to Khagrachhari’s Dighinala upazila, and Rangamati town, resulting in four deaths and many injuries.
For the sake of security and peace, the district administration discouraged tourist visits across the three hill districts—Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban—from October 8 to October 31.
However, on October 30, the administration announced that Rangamati would reopen to tourists on November 1 and Khagrachhari on Tuesday.
Our Rangamati correspondent Bijoy Dhar contributed to the story.