STAFF REPORTER || Tourism, after agriculture, is a key driver of the economy in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). However, allegations have emerged that the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) is disrupting tourism-related economic activities in Sajek Valley, Rangamati, by mobilising locals for a road blockade.  The disruption comes ahead of the Durga Puja holidays, when tourism businesses in Khagrachhari and Sajek were expecting transactions worth at least Tk 10 billion, according to a leader of the Sajek Cottage Owners’ Association. The blockade has raised concerns over potential financial losses for transport operators, cottage owners, restaurants and thousands of local people who depend on tourism for their livelihoods.On Sunday, October 11, hundreds of tourists were reportedly stranded in the Uzobazar area of Sajek Union during a road blockade that lasted from 6 am to 4 pm. Police and local administration officials, led by the Bangladesh Army, managed the situation. The blockade was suspended for 48 hours after law enforcement agencies reportedly assured those present that action would be taken against armed individuals.Interviews with people who took part in the blockade, along with on-the-ground observations, suggest residents in several villages faced pressure to join the programme.Two local karbaris—traditional community leaders—spoke to this correspondent on condition of anonymity, saying they had been compelled to mobilise villagers.“We are karbaris only in name. We are held hostage by them. We were told to bring 20 to 30 people from our villages. If we failed, we would have to answer for it. Fearing retaliation, we gathered people early in the morning and brought them here. Nobody came here of their own free will,” one of them said.The sources alleged that armed members of the UPDF had been conducting patrols in different villages of Sajek Union over the past week and warning residents to join the blockade when instructed. They also said local karbaris had been made responsible for ensuring attendance.The blockade was initially announced for an indefinite period under the name of the Gana Adhikar Rakkha Committee, before being suspended after several hours. The allegations that the UPDF (Prasit faction) was behind the programme could not be independently verified.News of the blockade circulating on social media has reportedly fuelled anxiety among tourists. Businesses in Sajek have begun facing cancellations of hotel and resort bookings ahead of the extended Durga Puja holidays, raising fears of a sharp downturn in tourism.The disruption is also affecting the local transport sector, cottage businesses and restaurants. An administrative notice issued by the Rangamati authorities has added to concerns among tourism operators, although the specific contents of the notice were not detailed by the sources interviewed for this report.Several transport workers said a suspension of vehicle movement on the Sajek road during the holiday period would cause substantial financial losses for owners and drivers. Vehicles operating on the route largely depend on tourist traffic to and from Sajek, they said.“If tourists stop coming, we will be left completely unemployed,” one transport worker said.Thousands of local people rely on tourism-related work for their livelihoods. Entrepreneurs and workers in the sector said they had been worried since Saturday as uncertainty grew over whether the blockade would disrupt holiday travel.A Sajek cottage owner alleged that the blockade had been called to consolidate regional armed influence and serve the UPDF (Prasit faction)’s interests. The owner said prolonged disruption would undermine the tourism industry, which has become an important source of economic opportunity in the hills, and severely affect the social and economic lives of local business owners and residents.A leader of the Sajek Cottage Owners’ Association said tourism-related transactions in Khagrachhari and Sajek were expected to reach at least Tk 10 billion over the Durga Puja holidays.The leader said ordinary people from both the hill communities and the Bengali population were bearing the cost of the disruption. The leader called for swift and effective measures to protect tourism, maintain stability, and prevent further economic losses in Sajek.