Month: April 2024

Chief Whip of Jatiya Sangsad(JS) Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury today submitted a 25-member panel to the Chief Election Commissioner Benazir Ahmed, MP, on the occasion of the Executive Committee(EC) Election-2024 of the Parliament Members' Club. The panel has been formed making JS Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury as its president, a press release said. Other members of the panel are: A B M Fazle Karim Chowdhury (Vice President), Whip Iqbalur Rahim (Vice President) and Mahabub Ara Begum Gini (Vice President), Captain (retd) AB Tajul Islam (General Secretary), Whip Nazrul Islam Babu (Joint Secretary) State Minister for Cultural Affairs Naheed Ezaher Khan (Treasurer), ASM Feroz (Member), State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Rumana Ali (Member), Zara Jabeen Mahbub (Member) and other life members of the Members Club. The election of the Parliament Members' Club will be held on April 8. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Nepal 'A' is playing the third T20 practice match against Ireland 'A'. The match will start at the Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University cricket ground at 1.00 pm today. Nepal suffered defeats in all the matches played earlier and lost the title of the series. Nepal 'A' had lost to Ireland 'A' by 21 runs in the first match and 40 runs in second match. Nepali team could not register win in the first match on Friday despite century from Lokesh Bam. Chasing the target of 223 runs presented by Ireland, Nepal was limited to 201 runs at the loss of all wickets in 19.3 overs. In the second warm-up match held on Saturday, Ireland 'A' set a target of 225 runs to win against Nepal 'A'. Nepal 'A' could score only 184 runs losing all wickets in 17.5 overs. Nepal 'A' lost the series against Ireland 'A' due to its inability of middle-order and lower-order batters to play well. Nepal 'A' is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Ireland 'A' from Wednesday. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: The US Chamber of Commerce delegation is going to participate in the Investment Summit to be held in Nepal on coming April 28-29. US Ambassador to Nepal, Dean Thompson, apprised Minister of Finance Barshaman Pun of the participation in a meeting at the Ministry of Finance on Monday. During the meeting, they discussed various issues of mutual interests including timely completion of the projects that are being run in Nepal with support of the U.S. The American envoy pledged support from their side to make the Investment Summit a success, according to Minister Pun's Secretariat. Informing that preparations were afoot to organize the summit successfully, Minister Pun shared that preparation for legal and procedural reforms was being made to create investment-friendly environment in the country. "As a favorable investment climate is being enabled in Nepal, we are anticipating for the participation of more American investors," Minister Pun said to US Ambassador Thompson. According to the Minister, works related to the Sovereign Credit Rating, a measurement of a government's ability to repay its debts, had been taken forward to improve investment environment in Nepal. The government of Nepal has taken forward the process of rating Nepal's credit rating through international credit rating organization named Fitch. Similarly, Minister Pun shared that the possibility of Nepal being blacklisted by the Financial Action Taskforce has been eliminated as the bill related to Anti Money Laundering and Business Environment Promotion have been endorsed by the both Houses of the parliament. The Bill that amended provisions of 19 different laws related to money laundering, is currently in the process of authentication by the President. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sumana Shrestha has said that a campaign will be conducted to end party politics in the education sector. At today's meeting of the National Assembly, Federalism Strengthening and National Concerns Committee, Minister Shrestha said that the campaign to end party politics in the education sector will be initiated from Tribhuvan University (TU). "The reason why investment in the education sector is not result-oriented is due to parties' interference," she said. According to her, there has been an open call for applications for members of the Service Commission. In the meeting held to discuss the progress and situation in the education sector, Suresh Adhikari, the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, presented the details of the current financial year and the future action plan. He said that the education budget should be increased and the school reconstruction action plan of Jajarkot earthquake affected area will be moved forward. "We are preparing to increase the budget for the repair of schools in the earthquake-affected areas," he said. In the meeting, Members of Parliament Jaga Prasad Sharma, Indira Devi Gautam, Rajendra Lakshmi Gaire and others gave suggestions on the upgradation of education sector. Chairman of the committee, Sonam Galzen Sherpa, presented an example of non-politicized community schools and stressed the need to increase the quality of education. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Chief Justice (CJ) Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha has said the Supreme Court (SC) is committed to clearing the cases older than five years by taking up the act as a mission. Talking to journalists here Monday, the CJ shared that the SC has only 40 cases older than 10 years that are left to be cleared and added that processes are ongoing to clear the cases registered five years ago. The oldest cases are the ones registered in 2067 BS and the cases are being reduced through the case management system. Saying that processes for the reforms of the SC have been initiated, Shrestha argued that the number of cases at the SC have increased also due to some laws enacted in the country in recent times. CJ Shrestha said that management of officials and judges is taking place on the basis of the load of the cases in the courts. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Equipment meant for the first phase exploration of petroleum products in Dailekh have arrived in Dailekh. Five small containers loaded with such equipment arrived here from China via Kolkata and Rupaidiya point. It is said, now the exploration works will be carried out round the clock. Big containers en route to the district from China have been stuck on the way due to narrow turning points along the Karnali and Mid-Hill Highways. It has been reported that efforts are underway to find a passage for those containers. Around 150 containers have reportedly left Rupaidiya Point in India for Dailekh carrying the exploration tools. The fixing of tools already arrived here is going on. Chief District Officer Khimraj Bhusal regularly monitors the site. As he said, the works to explore the petro products have been expedited. Likewise, processes are underway to address the demands of locals to provide them jobs and financial support to those households affected by the project. Bhairabi rural municipality's chief administration officer, Bhupendra Thapa, said locals demand that the procession of petroleum products should be carried out within the district. The project has been implemented as per the G2G agreement between Nepal and China and it is expected to open an avenue for Nepal's prosperity if turns successful, Dailekh Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kul Bahadur Gurung said. The drilling for the exploration will go up to four kilometers beneath the earth. Through drilling, it is expected to determine the quantity of petroleum products and gas storage, providing the way for going for the next round of works, Project Chief Dinesh Kumar Napit said. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: World Bank Country Director for Nepal Faris Hadad Zervos paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane at the Ministry of Home Affairs today. On the occasion, WB Chief Zervos said that the WB is willing to support the comprehensive disaster risk reduction project and the institutional capacity development of the governments in view of the disaster risk that may arise from large hydropower projects in Nepal. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its support to Nepal in various fields including post-earthquake reconstruction, social protection, and disaster management. Also today, country representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Caroline Spannath Varma also paid a courtesy call on DPM Lamichhane expressed his belief that there will be stronger and more effective cooperation in the future. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane praised the role played by UNHCR at different times in managing Nepal's refugee-related affairs. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: Lawmakers and stakeholders have stressed that the School Education Bill-2080 should ensure meaningful participation of guardians in school management committee. At an interaction 'Guardians in Education Act' organised on the occasion of 10th establishment day of Community School Management Committee Federation of Nepal here today, role of guardians in school management was highlighted. On the occasion, Nepali Congress General-Secretary and lawmaker Gagan Kumar Thapa pointed out the need of participation of guardians while drafting this act. "Guardians have not been included in school education bill related discussions. There should be collaboration with guardians", he shared, adding community should be united for reform of community schools. Similarly, Secretary of the CPN (UML) and lawmaker Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, said the school education bill is going to be formulated since long and it should be discussed by all. It was necessary to increase state's investment and guardianship in education, he underlined. Likewise, former Education Minister and lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Devendra Poudel mentioned that there would be no improvement of any sector until there is improvement in school education. "There will be no development until education sector becomes systematic. Teacher's commitment, activeness and hard work is necessary for the school reforms. Teacher should focus their attention on it. Guardians should also pay attention on it", he stressed. Chairperson of National Examinations Board, Dr Mahashram Sharma shared that there is a problem how to identify real guardians and fake guardians. He underscored, "It should be identified that how much means and resources do schools have in local levels and how much the federal government will provide while making this act. An illiterate person can sit in the school management committee and give his/her opinion. Real guardians should be participated in decision process of school management." Educationist Prof Kedar Bhakta Mathema stressed th at management committee should have ownership for school reform, stating that there should be unity among committee members. There should be collaboration and trust among guardians, school and teacher for reform of the schools, added Prof Dr Peshal Khanal. Federation Chairperson Gunaraj Muktan laid emphasis that the bill should pay attention on meaningful participation of Guardians as meaningful participation of real guardians was mandatory for the improvement of school. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri said on Monday that the government is working to finalize the Bill on Transitional Justice at the earliest possible time. Minister Giri said so while receiving the demand letter submitted by Accountability Watch Committee's Coordinator Raju Prasad Chapagain representing various organizations. Giri assured that the transitional justice related legislation would be amended complying with the verdicts of the Supreme Court, acknowledging the aspirations of the conflict victims and international conventions and treaties. The Minister said that intensive discussions on the Bill would be held with everyone to conclude the Bill. The letter demands an appraisal of the current status of the Bill that is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives (HoR). The demand letter seeks to find out the status of the Bill that contains an amendment proposal regarding the formation of the recommendation committee and selection of office -bearers. Furthermore, the delegation calling on the Minister today urged the government to initiate the process of appointing the commissioners following the amendment in the transitional justice bill and to make arrangements for the investigation into the cases of violations of human rights during the conflict era to be carried out only under the authority of the commissioner. As specified by the order issued by the full bench of the Supreme Court on the case of Suman Adhikari, the delegation demanded the readiness on the part of the government to immediately start the process of appointing officer-bearers for the commission after the proposal registered by the government in the parliament seeking an amendment in the transitional justice related laws is finalized. The demand letter also mentions that they need to appraise the government attaching top priority to facilitate in giving impetus to the transitional justice process and addressing the concerns of all stakeholders inside and outside of the parli ament regarding amendment of the Bill. "It would be an irony to repeat the same situation where the transitional justice process was derailed in the past," expressed Chapagain. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Ministry of Social Development, Karnali Province, is planning to develop at least 13 schools in 10 districts in the province as model schools. Officiating Director of Education Development Directorate, Deepa Hamal, said that the school was selected through the 'One District One Model School', physical infrastructure construction and teaching and learning improvement teachers' professional support programme. Director Hamal informed that 13 schools were selected by a ministerial decision among the schools that submitted proposals according to Public Education Reform Procedure 2080 BS. One school each has been selected in Surkhet, Dailekh, Dolpa, Jumla, Kalikot and Mugu, while two schools each have been selected in Jajarkot, Salyan and Rukumpaschim districts. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: As many as 63 mountaineers received permits to climb Mt Everest, the world's tallest peak, for this year's spring season. According to the Department of Tourism, 13 women and 50 men from five different expedition teams took the permits till Monday. Section Officer of the Department, Chun Bahadur Tamang, said altogether 148 persons including 42 women have got their permits to climb different mountains including Mt Everest. By issuing permits, a total of 105.59 million rupees in royalty has been collected so far. Issuing a press statement, the Department said equal three expedition teams received the permits to climb Mt Amadablam and Mt Annapurna followed by Mt Everest. The Department has stated that 478 persons had received permits to climb Mt Everest last year. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Chief Minister of the Bagmati province government, Shalikram Jammakattel is taking vote of confidence at 1.00 pm today. A meeting of the province assembly business advisory committee on Sunday had fixed the agenda with a decision to put the proposal relating to the vote of confidence for discussion in Bagmati province assembly today. According to Province Assembly secretary Krishna Hari Khadka, the meeting has decided to take a vote of confidence in the meeting of the Province Assembly to be held today. The meeting is scheduled to discuss the proposal related to the vote of confidence of CM Jammakattel and present it for decision. Chief Minister Jamkattel will present the motion related to the vote of confidence in the province assembly meeting and assembly members from different parties will give their views on the proposal, secretary Khadka said. Chief Minister Jammakattel was compelled to seek a vote of confidence after the Nepali Congress withdrew its support from the province government. Accordingly, he had registered a proposal with the Secretariat regarding taking the vote of confidence. The CM needs a total of 56 votes in the Province Assembly to sustain the government. In the Bagmati province, CPN (UML) has 27 members, Maoist Centre 21, CPN (Unified Socialist) seven, Hamro Nepali Party two, Nepali Congress 37, Rastriya Prajatantra Party 13 and Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party three. Source: National News Agency Nepal