The administration has formed a three-member committee to resolve the ongoing situation in Sajek, Rangamati. However, a road blockade continued for the fourth consecutive day on the Sajek–Baghaichhari road on Sunday, disrupting vehicular movement.

The committee was formed following a meeting with headmen and karbaris from Rangamati at the conference room of the Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Sunday (October 25). The meeting, which began at 10 am, lasted approximately one and a half hours.

The committee members are Bhabatosh Dewan, vice-president of the CHT Headman Network; Shanti Bijoy Chakma, its general secretary; and Kalyan Mitra Chakma, adviser to the Longadu Headman Association.

Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, a member of parliament for the Khagrachhari constituency and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, attended the meeting as the chief guest.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Bhuiyan said the committee would hold discussions with the protesters in Sajek on Monday. The Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) has been assigned to arrange the talks.

Bhuiyan said the current situation involves a dispute over the presence and control of the area between two armed regional groups. According to information received by the administration, one regional group previously controlled the area, but another group has since entered it.

He said the former group had demanded that the newly arrived group be removed from Sajek with the assistance of the security forces.

However, Bhuiyan said removing armed groups from the area would require consideration of both organisations rather than acting solely on the demand of one side. He added that the administration and security forces were reviewing the situation and working to remove the armed groups from the area.

Dipen Dewan, a member of parliament for the Rangamati constituency, attended the meeting as a special guest. He said the Sajek situation could be resolved through dialogue and expressed hope that the problem would be settled soon.

Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Muhammad Imranul Haque Bhuiyan, Additional District Magistrate Nishat Sharmin, and headmen and karbaris from various mouzas were also present at the meeting.

Road Blockade Continues for Fourth Day

Meanwhile, the road blockade called by the Sajek People’s Rights Protection Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association continued for the fourth consecutive day.

From 6 am on Sunday, protesters blocked several points along the Sajek–Baghaichhari road, including the 10 No. area, Hajachhara, and the 14-kilometre point in Machalong. Fires were lit at scattered locations along the road as part of the blockade, bringing vehicular movement to a halt.

Bijoy Kanti Chakma, member-secretary of the Sajek People’s Rights Protection Committee, said the blockade was continuing peacefully for the fourth day. He added that the programme would remain in place until their demands were addressed.

Sajek Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tofazzal Hossain said the blockade was proceeding peacefully and that traffic remained suspended. No untoward incidents had been reported, he said, adding that patrols by law enforcement agencies had been intensified to maintain order.