Fire at Sajek valley when information minister was there

Sanjoy Kumar Barua

Fire broke out at Sajek tourist spot when Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud was there said local administration.

A local journalist said that the fire was brought under control after around two hours of efforts with the help of law enforcement agency members and local people.

The fire broke out suddenly near Khasrang Hill resort of Sajek around 11:40 pm, said Rumana Akter, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Bagaichhari upazila.

“Information minister Hasan Mahmud and his wife went to visit Rangamati’s Sajek tourist spot yesterday while they went to take dinner  at  Khasrang Hill resort when the fire broke out at the opposite side of the resort suddenly”, she said.

“It is not yet clear whether the fire incident was sabotage. Primarily we think it was a Jhum fire. The fire service was not informed as the intensity of the fire was not severe”, she said.

Shuvra Chakma, an employee of Dighinala Fire Service, said, “In the morning, we got the news of the Sajek fire. No one informed us about the fire at night.”

Pradeep Chakma, assistant manager of Khasrang Hill resort said, “The information minister came to our resort for dinner at night. Jhum fire is not supposed to catch at this time. Someone may have deliberately set the fire. “

The owner of Khasrang Hill resort is Kujendra Lal Tripura, lawmaker and chairman of the Taskforce on Rehabilitation of Returnee Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons , he said.

Jeri Lusai, secretary of Sajek cottage owners association said “For the last few years several fire incidents were occurred at Sajek tourist valley area.”

On December 2, 2021 fire gutted four resorts and a restaurant in Sajek valley. At that time police and local administration suspected the fire was caused by short circuit but the owners of the resorts believed it was an act of sabotage.