Rangamati, Sept 7 (V7N) – A member of the Chakma royal family and a prominent tourism entrepreneur in Rangamati has received threats from regional militants demanding extortion, raising concerns about safety for investors in the hilly district.
 
Senior advocate and public prosecutor Advocate Protīm Ray Pampu, the owner of a new tourism resort near Kaptai Navy Camp, confirmed that he was threatened by an individual claiming to act on behalf of the UPDF Democratic organization. The resort, set on a lakefront property, is scheduled to open next month.
 
The threats began when a local resident, Amar Kumar Chakma, illegally occupied 30 decimal plots of the resort land on April 25, 2025. Subsequently, unknown individuals used the name of the UPDF Democratic organization to call Advocate Ray Pampu, warning him not to involve Bengali community members in the tourism project, stating that any collaboration would result in serious consequences.
 
“I was shocked. Interfering with my right to choose partners on my own family land is deeply distressing,” Ray Pampu said, adding that he had reported the matter to senior law enforcement officials. An anonymous law enforcement officer confirmed that the authorities are aware of the situation and necessary measures are being taken.
 
Local business owners report that extortion demands by regional militant groups have surged fivefold this year. Militants have forced small entrepreneurs, contractors, shopkeepers, and even top district officials to pay, threatening armed attacks, abduction, or closure of businesses if demands are not met. Several mobile towers across Rangamati have been shut down, disrupting internet services in the town.
 
This recent intimidation, directly targeting a well-known member of the Chakma royal family and disconnecting surveillance systems to issue threats, has created widespread alarm among the local population, highlighting the challenges faced by external and local investors in the region’s tourism sector.
 
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