BGB rescues 4 stranded tourists in Bandarban

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has rescued four tourists who were stranded in the remote Thuisapara area of Thanchi upazila due to heavy rainfall, flash floods and adverse weather.

The rescue operation was launched on July 11 following instructions from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and continued for nearly 48 hours, according to a BGB press release issued on Sunday afternoon, reports state news agency BSS.

The tourists had travelled to the remote Amiyakhum tourist destination on July 4. However, continuous rainfall, hill runoff and swollen waterways from July 7 left them stranded in Thuisapara, making river transport impossible.

A rescue team from Jinnapara Camp under Ballipara Battalion (38 BGB) reached the area despite the adverse weather.

The team established contact with the tourists, assessed their condition and coordinated with local residents to ensure accommodation, food and other essential support.

As part of the operation, BGB personnel escorted the tourists on foot along an alternative mountainous route through Thuisapara, Jinnapara, Halirampara and Nicholaspara before reaching Angsaopara.

The release said the team could not reach the border road on the first day due to landslides, rising stream water levels, strong currents and persistent rainfall.

On Sunday, another BGB team from Angsaopara Camp accompanied the tourists for about four hours through difficult hill tracks and streams to Nepiupara Border Outpost (BOP) near the border road.

BGB Bandarban Sector Commander Colonel Rubayat Jamil said the tourists were later transported safely to Thanchi by BGB vehicles.