Students of Qawmi madrasas and some local residents have admitted their "mistake" in obstructing tourists at the Utma Chora tourist centre in Sylhet.
They acknowledged their mistake during a meeting held on Tuesday afternoon in the office of the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Companiganj, Companiganj police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Uzair Al Mahmud told Dhaka Tribune.
"They admitted that their actions were driven by emotions and misunderstandings," the officer said.
Uzair further said that both the civil and police administrations have cautioned the individuals involved.
Students from a local Qawmi madrasa and some residents of Charar Bazar in the Uttar Ranikhai union of Sylhet’s Companiganj upazila on Sunday afternoon obstructed tourists who had come to visit the Utma Chora tourist spot.
A video of the incident went viral on social media.
Several media outlets also published reports on the matter, prompting authorities to take notice.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Anwaruzzaman said the UNO of Companiganj has been tasked with investigating the incident.
The day's meeting was held in the UNO’s conference room, attended by UNO Azizunnahar, the OC, representatives from the Tourist Police, imams of various mosques, students from the local Qawmi madrasa, and local residents.
At the meeting, the students and locals involved admitted their mistake and said that Utma Chora, located near the India border, is a remote area and many people arrive there in groups on motorcycles, often blowing loud horns.
They added that sometimes women accompany them on the back of the motorcycles; some groups engage in DJ parties and other activities deemed indecent by the locals.
As the area is rural and sensitive, such behaviors are disliked by the locals, they said.
Being a border area, the route is also known for drug trafficking, they added.
Considering all these public nuisances, the locals claimed they acted the way they did, the OC said.
A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that after the obstruction, a sense of quiet resentment and tension remained among the tourists.
How it started
Investigations reveal that on the day after Eid-ul-Azha, many tourists from both inside and outside Sylhet visited Utma Chora to celebrate the occasion.
During that time, teachers and students of the local madrasa went there and obstructed them.
In the viral video, someone is heard saying that the local religious scholars (Alems) and residents have decided that tourism will not be allowed at Utma Chora.
"So those of you who are here, please leave. People like you come here, drink alcohol, and engage in obscene activities, which destroy the environment of our area," the speaker says.
"To preserve our local environment, we are discouraging tourists from coming here. After today, none of you should ever come back here."
The video also features someone saying that the day before Eid, religious scholars, elders, and youth of the Uttor Ronikhai union collectively decided that no one will be allowed to come to Utma Chora for tourism.
In the same video, Jamiat Youth's Companiganj upazila chapter Vice President Mufti Ruhul Amin Siraji is heard saying: "We respectfully request you not to come here ever again. Please also inform your friends and relatives that the residents have closed Utma Chora for tourism."
Mufti Ruhul Amin Siraji said that some people come to the area under the disguise of tourism and engage in drinking and obscene behavior, which harms the local environment.
"The youth of the area are being misled by observing such activities. Considering all this, we held a meeting the day before Eid with local scholars, elders, and youth and decided to shut down this breeding ground. That is why, on Sunday afternoon, we politely requested the tourists to stop coming to Utma Chora," he explained.
The chairman of Uttor Ronikhai Union Parishad said: "I learned about the incident through Facebook. On Sunday afternoon, leaders of the Jamiat Youth and some local youths requested the visiting tourists not to come to Utma Chora in order to preserve the area's environment."
‘Not anyone’s personal property’
A tourist named Shafi Uddin Jewel remarked that Utma Chora is not anyone’s personal property.
“If there is drug use or indecent behavior, stop it; we have no objection to that,” he added.
He also pointed out that drugs are sold by some local people, urging authorities to stop drug peddling if possible.
Shafi encouraged embracing tourists and tourism positively and suggested unique business opportunities.
