Khagrachari, Sep 24 (V7N)- The hilly town of Khagrachari is gradually returning to normal after the end of a 72-hour road and waterway blockade called by local students. The blockade, which had paralysed road communications, officially ended on Monday, allowing traffic and daily life to resume.

After three days of disruption, bus services from Khagrachari to Dhaka resumed on Monday, followed by the reopening of routes to Chittagong, Rangamati, Feni, Comilla, and other parts of the country on Tuesday morning. Commuters and transport workers were relieved as the roads reopened, leading to a significant increase in activity.

Tourists who had been stranded at the Sajek Tourist Centre during the blockade were escorted to Khagrachari Sadar by security forces early Tuesday. With normal transport operations restored between Khagrachari Sadar and Sajek, the tourism sector is gradually picking up.

Md. Arif Khan, a lineman at the Sajek counter, confirmed that stranded tourists and vehicles were safely brought back under army and security forces' supervision. "Passengers and transport workers are happy to see the Sajek road reopened after four days," he added.

Roni, a lineman for Shanti Paribahan, mentioned that buses began running on various routes, including to Chittagong, early in the morning. Due to the suspension of services over the past few days, there has been an increased demand at the counters.

The 72-hour blockade had been called in response to violence in Dighinala and Rangamati on Thursday and Friday. An organisation called Jumma Chhatra Janata led the protest, with the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) expressing solidarity.

As the blockade lifted, life in Khagrachari district is returning to its usual pace, and both residents and tourists are looking forward to a return to normalcy.

END/BT/AJ