Admin of 'Tour Expert' Facebook Group Barsha Islam Arrested Over Death During Tracking Tour

Bandarban police have arrested Barsha Islam Brishti, the admin of the popular Facebook group ‘Tour Expert,’ in connection with the death of a female tourist, Smriti Akter, during a hill trekking tour in Alikadam, Bandarban. The victim’s family filed a case accusing negligence, leading to her arrest.

Alikadam Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mirza Zohir Uddin confirmed that Barsha Islam was arrested on Saturday afternoon and sent to the Bandarban court. The case has been filed under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code, which pertains to causing death by negligence.

What initially seemed like a simple adventure tour turned tragic. On June 8, a group led by Barsha Islam from the ‘Tour Expert’ Facebook community arrived in Alikadam and took part in the Rungrang-Kristong trekking route. On June 9, the group split into two teams. Barsha led a team of 12 people and a guide on one route, while the other team, without a guide, took the Alikadam Sadar route.

Smriti Akter was part of the second team. On June 11, three people went missing near the Shamuq Waterfall area due to a hill surge. The body of Sheikh Zubairul Islam was recovered on June 12, and Smriti Akter’s body was found on June 13 near the turn of Tain Khal. One person, Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury — reportedly the leader of that team — remains missing.

Smriti’s father, Mohammad Habibur Rahman, stated, “Barsha Islam organized this dangerous trekking tour without adequate preparation. She did not obtain permission from the local administration, lacked sufficient guides, and ignored weather warnings. My daughter’s death is directly the result of Barsha’s negligence.”

During preliminary interrogation after her arrest, Barsha claimed she was responsible for another five-day tour at the time of the incident. She said the team that included the deceased was led by the missing Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury. Barsha sought to absolve herself, saying, “I was not present at the accident site; the co-operator was in charge.”

Bandarban District Police Superintendent Mohammad Shahidullah Kawsar remarked, “This incident is a warning sign for restoring discipline in tourism management. Operators must comply with laws, use trained guides, and heed weather forecasts when bringing tourists to the hill districts. Strict action will be taken against those found responsible after investigation.”

The tragedy has once again raised questions about the role of Facebook-based groups and unprofessional tour operators in the tourism sector. Legal experts emphasize that organizing risky trekking tours without administrative approval is illegal and does not exempt organizers from liability in cases of loss of life.

While the incident is a profound loss for Smriti Akter’s family, it also highlights significant gaps in tourism safety management in Bandarban.

Photo: Barsha Islam Brishti (Collected)