‘Tour Expert’ admin Borsha Islam arrested over Bandarban tourist deaths
One tourist is still missing while bodies of two others have been recovered
Borsha Islam Brishti, admin of Facebook-based travel group 'Tour Expert', has been arrested in connection with the deaths of two tourists and the disappearance of another in a landslide incident in the remote Alikadam area of Bandarban.
The arrest followed a case filed this morning (14 June) by Habibur Rahman, father of one of the victims, Smriti Islam.
Alikadam Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mirza Zahir Uddin confirmed that Borsha was arrested with assistance from the army shortly after the case was lodged.
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According to the OC, a 33-member group set off on a trekking expedition organised by Borsha Islam on the night of 8 June.
He said, "On 10 June, Borsha led a 12-member subgroup along the Andharmanik trail accompanied by a local guide, while the remaining 20 — including Smriti Islam — were sent back to Alikadam under the care of an inexperienced individual."
On the afternoon of 11 June, a sudden landslide struck the group near Shamuk Jharna, sweeping away Smriti, Sheikh Jubairul Islam, and Hasan Chowdhury Shuvo. The bodies of Smriti and Jubairul were recovered on 12 and 13 June, respectively, while Hasan remains missing.
"The trip was conducted without proper safety measures, weather monitoring, or administrative clearance, leading to the tragic incident," said OC Zahir.
The case alleges gross negligence on the part of Borsha and others involved in the planning, he added.
Meanwhile, local guides, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the 'Tour Expert' group had gone to explore Kristong Pahar and Thanchi's Sakahfong Pahar with two local guides on 9 June. The group, coordinated by Borsha Islam and co-leader Hasan Chowdhury, split into two — one with 22 members and another with 11.
During the trek, three individuals, including tour operator Hasan Chowdhury and the two tourists, were swept away by a mountain stream's sudden surge.
