The tourism sector in the hill district of Rangamati has been hit hardest, suffering losses of approximately Tk100 crore due to the recent anti-discrimination student movement in July, continuous rainfall, flooding, and communal violence.
Over the past two months, Rangamati has seen almost no tourists. The district administration discouraged tourism between October 8 and 31, leaving those in tourism-related businesses and employment facing severe disappointment.
Following the government upheaval on August 5, severe flooding and heavy rainfall raised water levels in Kaptai Lake, submerging one of Rangamati’s main attractions, the Hanging Bridge. This had an immediate negative impact on tourism businesses.
Just as the natural disasters began to subside, tensions flared up again with violent incidents between ethnic minority groups and Bangalee settlers.
Despite damages to life and property, it is the long-term loss faced by tourism-related businesses that is most profound.
Nearly 100,000 people in Rangamati are involved in the tourism industry, including business owners, laborers, and employees.
According to local business owners, daily losses in the tourism sector in the district have ranged from one to Tk1.5 crore.
Business owners are now calling for government incentives to offset the financial damages incurred over the past four months.
Over the years, tourism has fostered the development of numerous hotels, motels, resorts, local handicraft businesses, tourist boats, restaurants, and furniture shops. The livelihood of the local population largely depends on tourism.
Rangamati Launch Owners Association Vice-President Ramzan Ali said: “Since July, due to political upheavals, the Hanging Bridge being submerged, and the communal violence in September, tourists were prohibited from visiting Rangamati. This has resulted in financial losses amounting to approximately Tk5 lakh.”
Shariful Islam Sumon, owner of Hotel Shanghai International in Rangamati, said: “Business has been extremely slow since July due to the situation in Bangladesh. Following the events of September 20 in Rangamati, we barely had any business. Now that the district administration lifted the travel restrictions on November 1, we hope to see tourists return.”
Rahul Chakma, organizational secretary of the Sajek Resort Owners Association said: “Our losses in Sajek have amounted to Tk15–20 crore in the last month and a half. If the government offers some kind of special incentive to cover these losses, it would help us get back on our feet. Since opening on November 5, a few tourists have started to visit Sajek, and we hope that increasing tourist arrivals will gradually compensate for our losses.”
Sajek currently hosts 116 resorts and over a hundred restaurants.
Sumedha Chakma, general secretary of the Rangamati Resort Owners Association, highlighted the potential of the three hill districts and said: “Although Rangamati used to attract tourists, there were no adequate accommodations. Now, we have developed those facilities, with 11 resorts under our association in Rangamati.”
Sumedha Chakma explained that during last month’s Durga Puja holiday, they anticipated earning around Tk20 lakh but instead faced losses.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult for small business owners like us to sustain this, with staff salaries, maintenance costs, and other expenses. Many resort owners who took out bank loans are now struggling to make monthly payments. Over the last four months, our association members have collectively lost Tk5–6 crore and now need government support to recover these financial losses.”
Masud Rana, general secretary of the Rangamati Restaurant Owners’ Cooperative Association, said that the hundred-plus restaurants in Rangamati have been losing a minimum of Tk5,000 daily due to the lack of tourists, with losses totaling around Tk8 crore over the past four months.
“We’re concerned about how to make up for such huge losses. The future is uncertain,” he said.
Bappi Tanchangya, president of the Rangamati House Boat Owners Association, emphasized the overall economic hardship facing tourism industry players.
“We’ve invested crores in this sector, and we’re almost on the verge of collapse. From July to October, resort owners alone have incurred financial losses of around Tk6 crore,” he said.
Moin Uddin Selim, General Secretary of the Rangamati Residential Hotel Owners Association, said: “Rangamati has 53 residential hotels. Since July, there has been a scarcity of tourists, and the entire month of October saw travel discouraged. Our hotels suffered daily losses of around Tk10 lakh, amounting to a cumulative loss of Tk12 crore over the past four months.”
Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan said: “Travel restrictions were in place for tourists from October 8 to 31. Given that the law and order situation has improved, tourism resumed on November 1. Since Khagrachari’s restrictions were lifted on November 4, tourists have been visiting Sajek from November 5 onwards, and Rangamati is now safe for tourism.”
He acknowledged the temporary hardships faced by tourism-related businesses, expressing optimism that they will bounce back with the start of the tourism season.
“We are working to ensure that no one’s livelihood in tourism suffers, and that everyone can achieve economic stability. The challenges faced by tourism stakeholders deeply concern me,” he added.
In response to questions about government incentives for tourism-related businesses impacted by travel discouragements, the deputy commissioner said: “If applications are submitted, I will notify the higher authorities in writing.”
He said that the Asam Basti-Kaptai Road in Rangamati is a popular scenic route and emphasized the need to preserve its beauty.
Plans to establish an information center in the Manikchari area of Rangamati are also under consideration to provide tourists with comprehensive information about Rangamati.