After four tense days of silence, Khagrachhari is slowly finding its rhythm again. The once deserted streets, where only security vehicles rolled under tense watch, saw the cautious return of buses, rickshaws, and everyday life on Wednesday morning.

Shops that had shuttered their doors for days opened again, as residents came out to buy essentials. Businessmen exchanged weary smiles with familiar customers, as if relieved to reclaim a fragment of normalcy.

The disruption began on Sunday, when the organisation ‘Jumma Chhatra-Janata’ enforced an indefinite road blockade, protesting the alleged rape of a schoolgirl. 

For four days, Khagrachhari stood still—transport halted, markets paralysed, and tensions spilling into deadly clashes that left at least three people dead and many others injured. Flames gutted shops and homes in Guimara, with Ramsu Bazar among the worst affected.

It was not until late Tuesday night that the organisation announced on Facebook that the blockade would be suspended until October 5. The move, they said, was in honour of the upcoming Durga Puja and came after assurances from the administration to address their eight-point demand.

Yet, even as the barricades lifted, a heavy unease lingered. Section 144, imposed to restrict public gatherings, remains in effect. The presence of army patrols, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) units, and police in Khagrachhari and Guimara is a constant reminder that peace here is fragile.

Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Shaber urged caution against rumours swirling on social media. Claims that medical tests found no evidence of rape, he explained, were premature: “The report will be submitted to court through police. Until then, no conclusions can be drawn.”

Meanwhile, the administration has formed a five-member panel to investigate the incidents that led to days of unrest.

Still, signs of hope glimmer. At bus counters, passengers trickled in—hesitant but eager to move. A handful of vehicles left town, their engines breaking the silence that had weighed heavily over Khagrachhari since Sunday. 

Officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Abdul Baten Mridha confirmed that no fresh incidents were reported, adding that “normalcy is gradually being restored.”

For the people of Khagrachhari, this fragile calm is both a relief and a reminder. Life is moving again, but with a wary eye on October 5, when the pause may end, and uncertainty could return.