KATHMANDU, March 8: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has stressed on the need for all to pledge to build a civilized society by eradicating all forms of discrimination against women.
In a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 112th International Women's Day, President Bhandari has said that some superstitions and harmful practices still exist in the name of tradition and that equal and active role of both men and women was essential in women's empowerment, participation and equality.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the President has wished more energy and enthusiasm to all to continue the journey of ensuring equality and justice by eradicating all forms of violence, discrimination, oppression and harmful practices and traditions existing in the society.
Stating that the provisions made through the constitution and various laws have strengthened the leadership role of women in all three levels of government, parliament and policy-making bodies, President Bhandari has said as Nepal has been making progress in various indicators of gender equality in recent times, it can be said that our efforts are at a stage of being result-oriented.
In a similar message, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has said that attention should be paid to all sectors for the all-round development of women by implementing the rights of women guaranteed by the Constitution.
Stating that the prosperity of the country is not possible unless women are politically, socially and economically independent and empowered, the Vice President has wished happiness, peace, prosperity and progress to all Nepali sisters on the occasion of International Women's Day.
Stating that the constitution guarantees equal rights to every woman without discrimination, the right of women to participate in all state bodies on the basis of the principle of proportional inclusion and equal rights in property and family matters, he has stressed that women occupying more than half of the population should have equal opportunities in every sector.
On the Rohingya issue (repatriation), Nepal and Bangladesh can work together. Nepal can play a role in resolving the Rohingya crisis. As a regional country, Nepal should play in resolving the regional crisis. The Rohingya refugee crisis is a regional problem for both South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Nepal and Bangladesh are two of South Asia’s closest friends and peace-loving neighbors, their ties made closer by recent high-level state visits. President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid visited Nepal in 2019. Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari likewise visited Bangladesh in 2021 as a guest on the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. So, they can work together in resolving common regional challenges.
For decades, Myanmar has gone through extreme cruelty to the Rohingya. Never cared about the law. The Rohingya problem is not new to Bangladesh. This problem, which started in 1978, became apparent in August 2017. More than 1 million Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh to save their lives when the Myanmar army launched a brutal operation against the Rohingya ethnic group. Bangladesh is seeking the intervention of the United States, the European Union and the United Nations as well as the regional alliance ASEAN for a lasting and acceptable solution to the Rohingya problem.
According to data of Nepalese media outlets, there are approximately 300 Rohingya living in Kathmandu, specifically in the Kapan area; and reports state that around 600 more are scattered all over Nepal However, the exact number of these asylum seekers is not known. (The Rohingya in Nepal, Kathmandu Post, January 01, 2020) The Rohingyas entered Nepal in the 1990s and mainly in 2012.
According to Nepal Police, ‘some Stateless Rohingyas have been found entering Nepal via Kakarbhitta border in eastern Nepal for the past few days. The incident came to light after 14 Rohingya refugees, including some children, were found to have entered Nepal and got apprehended when they arrived in Kathmandu on September 12. According to the Metropolitan Police Circle Bouddha, they entered Nepal from the Rohingya refugee camp of Bangladesh via India through Kakarbhitta. After entering Nepal, they arrived at the Rohingya refugee camp, Baluwakhani in Kapan of Kathmandu. (Rohingya Refugees Continue To Enter Nepal Illegally, Rising Daily Nepal, September 17, 2021)
On the other hand, Bangladesh is now facing serious problems because of this artificial crisis committed by Myanmar. Some socio-economic threats are rising in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has given shelter to Rohingyas for humanitarian reasons. But because of this humanity, the country is now at risk. As a result, there is a danger of Rohingyas spreading all over the country, there are also many challenges
The forest is being uprooted, they are cutting down the mountains and destroying them. There are also long-term economic risks Socio-economic and political problems may also be evident, and security risks may increase. Illegal narcotics trade, human trafficking, prostitution, terrorism in Rohingya camps is increasing in camps.
So, it can be said that the Rohingya problem isn’t the problem only for Bangladesh but also Nepal. Nepal should understand this. It’s time for both Bangladesh and Nepal to work together to repatriate Rohingyas in Rakhine in Myanmar.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar within two years in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The Myanmar authorities did not take back the Rohingyas according to the agreement. It is true that they don’t want to repatriate Rohingyas in Myanmar. Bangladesh raised the issue in every international forum. Many countries have supported Bangladesh. But Myanmar has no respect for international law and norms. Some mighty powers may have been behind the scene.
Bangladesh Prime Minister raised the issue at UNGA on September 25, 2021, to draw attention in solving the Rohingya crisis. She has focused especially on the engagement of ASEAN leaders. It is ASEAN that can solve the Rohingya refugee problem easily.
As a South Asian country and a well-trusted friend of Bangladesh, Nepal can help Bangladesh to resolve it. Nepal can be a mediator in this regard. Nepal has very warm relations with both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Various countries and international organizations have taken various measures to resolve the Rohingya problem. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticized Myanmar authorities for being lax in repatriating displaced Rohingya. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Yang Lee, the UN special envoy for human rights in Myanmar, said all major countries in the world had a responsibility to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
In this regard, Nepal can and should play a very significant role to resolve the crisis such ways:
1) Nepal can support Bangladesh at every international forum such as at UNGA, regional conferences. It can vote in favor of Bangladesh. It can raise the issue in BIMSTEC and SAARC platforms.
2) Nepal can negotiate with Myanmar diplomatically and bilaterally. It has good bilateral relations with Myanmar.
3) Nepal can engage with other regional states to solve the crisis.
4) Nepal’s Buddhist society can play an effective role in this regard.
The relations of Buddhists between Myanmar and Nepal are well established. Nepalese Buddhists can do it very easily. Buddhism is more related to the establishment of peace and non-violence. Sri Lankan Buddhists can play a significant role in this regard. They can exercise the path shown by the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha. Buddhists will be recognized as the Avatar of human rights if the Buddhist community plays a role in solving the Rohingya crisis. It will ensure regional to some extent World peace and communal harmony. Nepal’s Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. It is a holy place for all Buddhists around the world. Myanmar Buddhists and the government may also have respect for Nepal for this holy place. Nepal can use this opportunity. Nepalese Buddhists, people and government should make the Burmese Buddhists understand in this connection. Then, the people of Myanmar can be motivated to pressurize the Myanmar government to repatriate Rohingyas to their land. Bangladesh is also contributing to establishing a Buddhist monastery in Nepal. ‘Bangladesh Finalizes Agreement to Build Buddhist Monastery in Lumbini, Nepal’ was the headline of Hong Kong-based Global Buddhist Door headline on October 11. Can anyone imagine a Muslim country building a Buddhist monastery in Nepal, a religiously Hindu country? All Buddhists around the world, especially Burmese and Nepalese Buddhist should realize this with special attention.
5) Nepalese businessmen can engage themselves to some extent. Because stability in the region is very needed for promoting investment and trade.
Why should Nepal play a role to resolve the problem?
1) This issue is a humanitarian issue. Rohingyas are the sons of Land in Rakhine in Myanmar. They have birthrights to reside in Myanmar.
2) It is an issue of Justice. According to Luther King Junior "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Myanmar authorities committed genocide. The perpetrators should be under international legal jurisdiction.
3) It is an issue of the region. The whole of South Asia and Southeast Asia may be volatile for this issue. As a South Asian state, Nepal has some responsibilities.
4) Nepal has bitter experience in dealing with Bhutanese refugees. Nepal knows how the refugees can become a burden and threat to society to some extent. Bangladesh has been suffering from the same problem. As a well-wisher friend, Nepal could understand Bangladesh's sufferings in this regard. Thus, Nepal should do something as per its capabilities.
5) Nepal has very good relations with both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
6) Enhancing bilateral relations could contribute to the growth of trade and investment relations with ASEAN and SAARC countries. This will create an opportunity to serve the greater regional interests.
7) Re-establishing the Himalayan-South Asian connectivity can occur if political and diplomatic solutions of Bangladesh-Myanmar strained ties can be found.
8) Normally, Bangladesh supports Nepal at every common international forum. Now it is time and duty for Nepal to stand by Bangladesh in her crisis moment.
However, Tourism, Covid-19, counter-terrorism, microfinance, exchange of training expertise and education are some sectors in which Bangladesh and Nepal can collaborate. Bangladesh faces a refugee problem after the massive influx of Rohingya refugees into the country in 2017. Now Bangladesh wants to repatriate them to Myanmar. Nepal should support Bangladesh at all international fora to repatriate them peacefully. Such a gesture will not go unnoticed in Dhaka.
Nepal should consider this. Nepal should do something in favor of Bangladesh regarding Rohingya refugee repatriation to Myanmar. Nepal can make Myanmar understand and agree in this regard.
Nepal can play a very significant role in this regard. Nepal can mediate to bolster the strained relations between Bangladesh-Myanmar. Nepal can repatriate the Rohingyas in Rakhine in Myanmar. Nepal can easily solve the problem because it has very good relations with Myanmar.
However, as a well-wisher friend and partner in the development process and trade, Bangladesh can expect cooperation and support from Nepal regarding the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. Bangladesh deserves it. So, Nepal should help, support Bangladesh and mediate in resolving the crisis as soon as possible.
KATHMANDU, September 3: Stakeholders and drug producers have claimed that Nepal can produce maximum of its drugs requirement within the country by taking appropriate policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical companies.
The drug producers, however, have called for amendment to Drugs Act, 2035.
At a programme with the drug producers in Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Secretariat on Thursday, the speakers stressed the need for massive changes in the concerned laws and Acts that discourage the drug industries.
According to reports, the size of drug market in Nepal is in between Rs 45 billion to Rs 50 billion and domestic production is just half of the total demand. It is said that the drug market in Nepal is increasing by almost 20 per cent every year.
However, some Nepalis drug producing companies also export their products.
On the occasion, President of FNCCI Shekhar Golchha urged the drug producers to cooperate for the successful implementation of National Economic Transformation-2030 unveiled by the FNCCI for encouraging the country's economic growth.
Likewise, Chairman of Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal Prajjwal Jung Pandey argued that the country can be made self-reliant in this field within some years if the government extended full support to this sector.
KATHMANDU, Aug 1: Chairman of CPN (Maoist Center), Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and senior leader of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal held a meeting on Sunday morning.
Meeting between the leaders duo takes place at a time when the new government formed under the premiership of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is yet to get its full shape. The Deuba-led government has only six Cabinet members including the prime minister, four ministers and a minister of State.
Prachanda reached at the Koteshwor-based private residence of leader Nepal , according to a source close to Prachanda. During the meeting, leader Nepal was asked to join the Deuba-led Cabinet.
Prime Minister Deuba has also been urging the UML’s Nepal faction to join the government as the lawmakers close to it extended their support when Deuba won a trust motion on July 18.
Leader Nepal, who is leading the dissident faction in the main opposition UML, said that they can join the government immediately as they have been making attempts to ensure party unity.
KATHMANDU, May 22: Constitution expert and senior advocate Dr Chandra Kanta Gyawali has said that it was a wrong call of President Bidya Devi Bhandari to ask the lawmakers to show the support of majority in parliament while staking claim for the formation of a new government as per Article 76 (5) of the Constitution of Nepal.
Talking to Ratopati hours after the President, at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, dissolved the House of Representatives (HoR), Dr Gyawali said that Prime Minister’s KP Sharma Oli’s claim for new government formation on Friday, too, was also unconstitutional. “He [PM Oli] had once lost a trust vote from parliament on May 10. As he said that the government recommended to the president citing that it could not win a trust vote amid the contemporary political situation, he should not have staked a claim for a new government on Friday.”
According to Gyawali, President Bhandari should have sought a majority, instead should have approved the claim submitted by the alliance of opposition parties.
“On the one hand, the Prime Minister had failed to get a vote of confidence, on the other hand, the leader of the main opposition staked a claim with the support from 149. In that situation, the president should have called the leader of the opposition party to form an alternative government,” said he, adding that the prime minister elected under Article 76 (5) must take a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives within 30 days of his/her appointment.
Senior advocate Gyawali also argued that the political parties can not issue whip to the lawmakers as each member of parliament is entitled with the right to stake claim for new government formation as per Article 76 (5). “The parties can take action or issue a whip once the process of trust vote begins in parliament,” he said.
It is to be noted that President Bhandari dissolved the lower house of parliament as per Article 76 (7) and announced fresh parliamentary elections for November 12 and 19 upon the recommendation of Cabinet meeting held on Friday midnight.
Earlier, Bhandari rejected the claims staked for the new government formation as per Article 76 (5). Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli claimed to have the support of a majority of lawmakers in parliament. While PM Oli said that as many as 153 lawmakers --- 121 from the UML and 32 from the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) --- supported him for new government formation, Deuba also claimed to have support of 149 lawmakers --- 61 from NC, 49 from CPN (Maoist Center), 26 from ruling CPN-UML’s Madhav Nepal faction, 12 from Janata Samajbadi Party’s Upendra Yadav faction and an independent lawmaker. The claims from both the leaders were rejected citing the lack of strong bases for new government formation as per Article 76 (5).
