On June 11, a group of 33 tourists led by Barsha Islam Brishti, admin of the “Tour Expert” travel group, went on a trip to Alikadam in Bandarban. Their goal was to explore the remote hills of Kristong, Rangrang, and Saka Hafong.
During their return journey, three tourists were swept away by a mountain stream while crossing Tain Canal. Sadly, two bodies were later recovered. One tourist, Hasan, is still missing.
Police Arrest Barsha Islam
On June 13, Alikadam police arrested Barsha Islam after the incident. She was named in a case filed by Habibur Rahman, father of one of the victims, Smriti Akter.
The case accuses Barsha of arranging a risky tour to a remote location without following safety rules. The group travelled during bad weather and didn’t have enough professional guides to help them navigate the dangerous areas.
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What Went Wrong?
Local sources say the tourist group was split into two smaller groups: one with 22 people and another with 11. When 22 tourists tried to cross Tain Canal, 19 made it safely, but 3 were swept away by strong currents.
Later, the body of Sheikh Jubairul Islam was found on June 12. On June 13, Smriti Akter’s body was also recovered. Hasan, one of the group’s co-hosts, remains missing.
Family’s Complaint
Smriti Akter’s father, Habibur Rahman, said in the case that his daughter joined the tour after seeing an attractive post on social media made by Barsha Islam. He blamed Barsha for not warning them about the dangerous weather and for taking tourists to a risky area without proper preparation.
He also said there were not enough local guides, and his daughter had no experience traveling in such mountain regions. Due to rain and flash floods near Shomukjhiri waterfall, Smriti and two others were swept away.
Local Authorities Explain the Rules
Alikadam’s UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) Abdullah Al Mumin said that before traveling outside the town area, tourists must register their names and addresses with the tourism office. Also, there should be one registered guide for every 10 tourists.
Barsha Islam gave names of only 12 tourists and took just one guide for the entire group of 33 people. Worse, she allowed 22 tourists to return without any guide, which is a clear violation of safety rules.
Current Status
Police have arrested Barsha Islam and presented her in court. Other members of the Tour Expert group have also been named as unknown accused in the case. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
