Tourists have started leaving Bandarban district as local administration has imposed a temporary ban on tourism at Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas from Tuesday morning as a security drive was going on to either arrest or remove suspected militants and criminals from the hilly region.

The administration has also discouraged tourists to travel to Thanchi and Alikadam upazilas amid security operations of the joint forces in the bordering areas of Ruma and Rowangchhari.

The military was joined by the members of the Rapid Action Battalion in the drive as the security officials were conducting extensive searches in the surrounding villages.

Military helicopters of the security forces were also patrolling the areas.

On Monday night, Bandarban’s district administration imposed the travel ban at Rowangchhari and Ruma.

On Tuesday morning, tourists carrying vehicles heading for Thanchi had been sent back to Bandarban sadar upazila from Milanchari police outpost, said Bandarban Micro-jeep-mahendra Owner’s Cooperative Association general secretary Md Kamal Hossain

‘The tourists are only allowed to visit Meghla and Nilachal Tourism spots in the hilly town,’ he said.

The hotel owners in Bandarban said that most of the hotels were vacant and bookings have been canceled after the ban.

Authorities of the Hotel Hilton and the Hotel Hill View said those who came to stay on Tuesday morning have canceled their plans and some headed toward Cox’s Bazar.

‘On Tuesday morning, a group of 70 people were supposed to check-in at the Sairu Hill Resort at Thanchi, but they couldn’t reach as the Thanchi road was blocked,’ said deputy manager of the luxury residential complex Mir Atiqur Rahman.

‘A group of 40 people also checked out in the morning, so the resort is empty now,’ he said.

Bandarban superintendent of police Md Tariqul Islam said that the movement of the tourists was being prohibited or discouraged by the orders of the higher authorities.