‘Tour Expert’ admin Borsha nabbed
Staff Reporter :
Borsha Islam Brishti, the administrator of the popular Facebook-based travel group Tour Expert, has been arrested in connection with the deaths of two tourists and the disappearance of another during a trekking expedition in the remote Alikadam region of Bandarban.
The arrest was made on Friday (14 June) following a case filed by Habibur Rahman, father of deceased tourist Smriti Islam. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Alikadam Police Station Mirza Zahir Uddin confirmed the arrest, stating that it was carried out with the assistance of the army shortly after the case was lodged.
According to police, a 33-member trekking group led by Borsha Islam embarked on a journey on the night of 8 June.
On 10 June, Borsha led a 12-member team through the challenging Andharmanik trail with one local guide, while the remaining 20 members including Smriti Islam were sent back to Alikadam under the supervision of an inexperienced person.
Tragedy struck on the afternoon of 11 June when a sudden landslide hit the group near the Shamuk Jharna area, sweeping away Smriti Islam, 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.
OC Zahir stated that the trip was conducted without proper safety measures, weather assessments, or administrative approval, which contributed to the tragic outcome.
“The case has been filed on charges of gross negligence against Borsha and others involved in organizing the trek,” he said.
Local guides, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the group had initially explored Kristong Pahar and Sakahfong Pahar in Thanchi on 9 June with two local guides.
The team, coordinated by Borsha and co-organizer Hasan Chowdhury, later split into two subgroups one comprising 22 members and the other 11.
During the trek, three individuals including tour operator Hasan Chowdhury were swept away by a sudden surge of a mountain stream, resulting in the current fatalities and missing persons.
Authorities have urged all tour operators and adventure groups to strictly follow safety protocols and obtain necessary permissions before conducting expeditions in remote and hazard-prone regions like Bandarban.