Tourism suspended in Ruma, Rowangchhari for 'security reason'

The district administration has banned tourists from entering Bandarban's Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas for an indefinite period on what it called security grounds.

Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Yasmin Parvin Tibrizi on Monday requested tourists to not travel to these upazilas until further notice as the decision was made for "the overall safety of tourists."

The decisio came into effect from today.

Recently, the Rapid Action Battalion or RAB said at a press conference in Dhaka that the "missing" youths from some districts of the country are undergoing military training under the umbrella of an armed group in the hills.

Since then, the RAB and the Bangladesh Army have been conducting joint operations in remote areas bordering Ruma and Rowangchhari.

Md Mamun Shibli Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Ruma and Md Khorshed Alam Chowdhury Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Rowangchhari said tourist movement in the two upazilas have been banned due to joint drive of law enforcers against terrorism.

When the ban will be lifted has not been ascertained from the administration, they said.

Md Nasirul Alam, president of Bandarban micro-jeep-mahendra owners cooperative association said the operations of tourist-carrying vehicles in these upazilas have been suspended after getting the administrative direction today.