Police have arrested Barsha Islam Brishti, the admin of the Facebook-based travel group "Tour Expert Group," in connection with the recent death of a tourist in Alikadam, Bandarban. She was taken into custody on Saturday morning on charges of negligence.
Barsha Islam Brishti, 32, originally from Jashore, currently resides in Dhaka, according to police sources.
Local reports say that on Wednesday, June 11, a team of 33 tourists led by Barsha visited Alikadam.
The group was co-hosted by an individual named Hasan and guided by local expert Siddhartha Tanchangya.
Their goal was to summit Krishtang Hill in Alikadam and reach the Leman Liblu and Saka Hafong peaks in Thanchi.
The group later split into two teams of 22 and 11 members. While crossing the Tain canal, 19 members from the larger team crossed safely, but three, including co-host Hasan, were swept away by strong currents.
The body of one of the missing tourists, Sheikh Jubairul Islam, was recovered early Thursday near Kanai Majhi Ghat in Alikadam.
On Friday morning, another body, identified as Smriti Akter, was found at Amtoli Ghat on the Tain canal. The search for Hasan remains ongoing.
Following the incident, Smriti Akter’s father filed a case against Barsha Islam, accusing her of negligence. Based on the complaint, Alikadam police arrested her.
Bandarban’s Additional Superintendent of Police Jinia Chakma confirmed the arrest, stating that it was made in response to the complaint filed by Smriti’s father over alleged negligence.
