At least seven tourists sustained injuries, two of them critically, after a four-wheel-drive Mahindra Jeep—locally known as a ‘Chander Gari’—overturned on Sunday morning near the popular Sajek Valley hill station in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari sub-district.
The accident took place in the Houshapara area along the winding Sajek-Khagrachhari road as the vehicle was returning from the scenic hilltop village. All seven casualties hail from Singair sub-district in Manikganj district.
Immediately following the crash, personnel from the Bangladesh Army stationed nearby launched a prompt rescue mission. The soldiers managed to extract the victims from the damaged vehicle and arranged emergency transport to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Rapid emergency response remains vital in remote hill tracts, where steep terrain often complicates timely rescue efforts.
Officer-in-Charge of Sajek Police Station, Tofazzal Hossain, confirmed the incident, though local authorities have yet to verify the precise cause behind the rollover. Details regarding the driver’s identity, vehicle speed, mechanical condition, and exact road circumstances at the moment of the accident remain under investigation.
The injured individuals have been identified as Azahar Mia, 60; Shahanara Akhtar; Arifur Rahman, 35; Md Sohrab, 26; Nasrin, 35; Md Shahjahan, 45; and Asha, 13. Attending medical staff at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital noted that the conditions of Azahar Mia and Shahanara Akhtar remain particularly critical. Among the other holidaymakers, Nasrin suffered head injuries, Md Shahjahan sustained severe lacerations to his arm, and 13-year-old Asha suffered a fractured right arm.
Nestled in the Kasalong mountain range of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sajek Valley stands as one of the country’s most frequented holiday destinations. Reaching the remote tourist hub requires navigating treacherous mountain roads from Khagrachhari marked by sharp hairpin turns, severe gradients, and narrow cliffside stretches. Open-topped four-wheel-drive vehicles like the ‘Chander Gari’ serve as the primary transport mode across this challenging terrain. During peak holiday seasons, heavy tourist traffic heightens transport risks, underlining the constant need for vehicular safety checks, experienced mountain drivers, and strict adherence to speed limits.
