Traffic has resumed in Khagrachhari on Tuesday following a 72-hour road blockade, with long-distance vehicles departing from Tuesday morning.
Normal vehicular movement has been restored on all roads, allowing tourists stranded in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to begin their return.
Around 1,400 tourists were trapped in the Sajek tourist area under the Baghaihat zone due to the blockade from September 21 to 23.
On Tuesday morning, 112 pickups, 23 CNG vehicles, and numerous motorcycles left Sajek, escorted by the army and police.
The blockade was enforced by hill students and local residents who obstructed roads with trees, electric poles, and burning tires.
Efforts by the army and locals successfully cleared the roads, restoring traffic by the morning of September 23.
On the night of September 20, miscreants had removed iron plates from two culverts in the Shuknachhara and Uluchhara areas, making the road impassable.
Army sources reported that, under military supervision, the pavement was repaired for safe passage.
In a gesture of goodwill, the Baghaihat Zone and the Sajek Resort Owners Association announced a 50-75% waiver on resort fees for stranded tourists.
After all obstructions were cleared from the Sajek-Khagrachhari road at 6:30am on Tuesday, tourists were safely escorted back to Khagrachari.
An estimated 1,400 tourists returned in 244 vehicles, including 112 local jeeps, 109 motorcycles, and 23 CNG vehicles.
Traffic has also resumed on all routes from Khagrachhari to Dhaka and Chittagong, restoring normalcy in the area after recent violence and bringing relief to the public.
