Sarjis Alam, Chief Organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has come under fire for his remark describing Bandarban as a place to "send extortionists as punishment." Facing widespread criticism, Alam has publicly apologized for the comment.

The Hill Tracts Student Council declared him "unwelcome" in the region, condemning the remark as an insult to the hill communities and a reflection of state discrimination. In a Facebook post, Sarjis Alam expressed regret and reaffirmed his commitment to fighting for the rights and dignity of all ethnic groups. The student council had earlier warned that if no apology was made, all NCP activities would be declared unwelcome in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.