The Bangladesh Army has evacuated 461 tourists stranded in Sajek Valley in Rangamati's Baghaichari upazila after days of heavy rain, landslides and disrupted road communication.
According to the Baghaihat Army Zone, 311 tourists left Sajek on Friday morning after Army personnel helped them cross flooded sections at Machalong Bazar, Simanachhara and Baghaihat Bazar by boat before they continued their journey by road.
Another 150 tourists were evacuated on Thursday in the first phase of the operation.
A total of 561 tourists had been stranded in the hill resort following continuous rainfall, landslides and damaged road links. The Army deployed boats and rafts to help people cross inundated stretches of road. Around 100 tourists are expected to be evacuated in the remaining phases.
Rahul Chakma, organising secretary of the Sajek Cottage and Resort Owners' Association, said stranded visitors were provided free accommodation, while they were only required to pay for drinking water.
Elsewhere in Rangamati, continuous rainfall and adverse weather have disrupted normal life. The district administration has relocated residents from landslide-prone areas to safer places, with 3,524 people taking shelter in 40 shelters across the district.
Floodwaters have inundated homes, cropland and low-lying areas in Baghaichari, Belaichari and Juraichari as water from upstream continues to flow into the region. Thousands of people remain affected and are facing shortages of safe drinking water and food.
Landslides have also disrupted traffic at several points on the Rangamati-Chattogram and Kaptai-Chattogram roads. The district administration and Fire Service have urged people living in vulnerable areas to move to shelters amid the risk of further landslides.
