Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Monday have given the top priority to the formation of a new committee to investigate into the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant in Kanchanpur, and if police personnel were involved in the crime and hiding its evidence. There are some other stories as well in connection with the case.
Likewise, the Federal Parliament Secretariat’s success in endorsing all bills related to implementation of fundamental rights by the constitutional deadline of Wednesday has also received significant attention on the front pages of Kathmandu broadsheets.
Few other issues from political, sociocultural and financial spheres have been featured on the broadsheet covers today.
Important
Parliament passes all rights bills on time
Gorkhapatra, Kantipur, Annapurna Post, Nepal Samacharpatra and The Kathmandu Post report that both houses of the Federal Parliament—House of Representatives and National Assembly—have endorsed 16 bills that were required to implement 31 fundamental rights mentioned in the 2015 constitution. The constitution had fixed a deadline of September 19 this year to introduce the laws.
Now, they will come into operation after President Bidya Devi Bhandari will enact them.
Transporters agree to open Dashain booking
The government and transport entrepreneurs have agreed to open booking for upcoming Dashain festival from Friday this week after rounds of negotiations, Karobar and The Himalayan Times report.
Earlier, the transporters have denied cooperating with the government to facilitate the movement of citizens ahead of the greatest festival. But, they agreed to open booking after the government said it would lift suspension imposed on bank accounts of transport committees. Likewise, the government has also agreed to adjust transport fare.
Ignored
Country still needs Rs 600 billion for reconstruction
Nepal still needs Rs 600 billion more in order to complete the ongoing post-earthquake reconstruction works, Rajdhani reports in a three column story. The report quotes National Reconstruction Authority’s CEO Sushil Gyewali to inform that the Authority is taking initiatives to collect the money from international donors as many of them are yet to implement the promises they made on different occasions.
Nirmala Pant’s parents meeting PM
Whereas the investigation into the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant has failed to produce any concrete results, the victim’s parents, who are in Kathmandu since last week, are planning to meet Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today, demanding justice, according to The Himalayan Times. They are planning to submit a five-point memorandum to the PM
Meanwhile, the couple also want to see president Bidya Devi Bhandari, the report adds.
Central bank faces challenges in managing small value notes
Nagarik reports in a two column anchor story that the central bank of the country, Nepal Rastra Bank, is finding it difficult to manage notes of smaller denominations as it collects them in a high number. The problem surfaces when banks and financial institutions promote the use of notes of bigger denominations, which is easier technically and logistically, and send smaller notes to the central bank.
PM avoids meeting chief ministers
After Prime Minister Oli denied meeting them collectively, chief ministers of various provinces are trying to see him individually to express concerns over rights delegated to provincial governments. However, the Prime Minister is avoiding them repeatedly, reports Naya Patrika.
Apparently Oli is unhappy after the chief ministers organised a meeting in Pokhara to have a collective voice before the scheduled meeting of inter-province council.
New company to prepare DPR for Kathmandu-Terai fast track
A four column story in Abhiyan informs that the Nepal Army is preparing to select an international company to prepare the detailed project report for the Kathmandu-Terai fast track. The selection process has reached its final stage and the announcement is likely to come out by the end of this week, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the Army Spokesperson Gokul Bhandari says the report will be prepared in next four months.
Interesting
Nepal didn’t find qualified candidates for ambassadors
As many as 16 diplomatic missions of Nepal are running without ambassadors for past few months. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has already begun preparations to make the appointments. But still, the government has failed to appoint ambassadors. Why?
Quoting a minister and officials of the Office of the Prime Minister, Annapurna Post claims in its anchor story that the government has not found sufficient qualified candidates meeting all set criteria to lead the missions.
Achham locals turn Chhaugoth into community hall
After the new criminal code crminalised the practice of secluding menstruating women in a separate hut (Chhaugoth), locals of a village in Achham district have decided to use the existing structure for community meetings and gatherings, reports Kantipur in its anchor story.
For past 11 years, menstruating women used to stay in this common building every month; and they have now decided to end the tradition.
