The NCP leaders failing to agree terms of pending merger works has been featured in most national newspapers along with news of PM KP Sharma Oli being irked about how the police treated Resham Chaudhary while he was admitted to hospital.
News of Nepal and Bangladesh signing an agreement to make joint investments in hydropower projects has also made to the front pages of some national dailies.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
NCP merger still not finalised as factional feud continues
The Himalayan Times reports that the much hyped meeting of Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s Central Secretariat failed to name district in-charges and co-in-charges, department heads of the party and to allot responsibilities to the party’s central committee members due to a factional feud.
According to a senior NCP leader, Saturday’s meeting failed to nominate the in-charges and co-in-charges of the party’s district chapters mainly because of differences over ‘one person, one responsibility’ in the party.
Senior NCP leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has been saying this rule should be strictly followed, while Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli opposes the idea. Pushpa Kamal Dahal has not made his stance clear, but some of his recent statements indicate that Dahal may also favour strict adherence to the ‘one person one responsibility’ rule.
Likewise, Republica points out that top leaders of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) have entrusted the party’s cochairs Oli and Dahal with the responsibility of finalising the party’s guiding principle and making it public in the next few days.
Cabinet reshuffle to take place after review
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that ruling party will reshuffle the Cabinet after top leaders will review performances of ministers in various posts. All top leaders agreed that a review was necessary to make sure that the part moves forward in the right direction.
PM Oli outraged by the way the police treated Resham Chaudhary
The Himalayan Times reports that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli ordered Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi to take action against erring police officers who put manacles on Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal lawmaker Resham Chaudhary’s leg.
The PM’s directive came after political leaders and commoners expressed outrage on social networking sites at the inhuman treatment meted out to Chaudhary, who was admitted to Bir Hospital on Thursday evening. Chaudhary was convicted on March 6 of masterminding the 2015 Kailali incident, in which nine people were killed during a violent scuffle between the Tharus and security personnel.
Chaudhary remains in jail as he was recently convicted by Kailali District Court in the Tikapur carnage case. He has challenged his conviction in the High Court.
Similarly, The Kathmandu Post and Naya Patrika report that rights defenders and political analysts say the way authorities–particularly the police administration– have treated Chaudhary at hospital shows the true character of the current regime.
Ignored
Nepal and Bangladesh set for joint investment in hydropower
Arthik Abhiyan reports that Nepal and Bangladesh have agreed to make joint investments in hydropower projects.
The decision was taken at the Energy Secretary level meeting between the two countries on Friday which included the projects covered by the white paper issued by the previous meeting a year back.
Bangladesh has formulated a policy to import 9,000 MW electricity from Nepal by 2040. For this, the construction of transmission line, selection of projects and cooperation on alternative energy are in focus.
As per the preliminary agreement, both the nations will use Indian infrastructures for the immediate purpose also with the aim to build a transmission line via India in the near future.
For now, Bangladesh has shown its interest to invest in 1,110 MW Sunkoshi-II and 536 MW Sunkoshi-III.
Dengue spreads to eastern Terai after Dharan
Republica reports that after infecting hundreds of people in Dharan, the dengue outbreak has started spreading aggressively in other parts of eastern Terai including Biratnagar, the capital of Province 1.
According to the District Health Office (DHO) Morang, four persons have contracted dengue in Biratnagar Metropolitan City so far.
Not just in Biratnagar, but dengue patients have been found in six other local units of Morang. As per the details provided by the DHO, 23 people have been infected with dengue in Morang and 10 out of them have already returned home following treatment.
200 die in road accidents in far west Nepal in the past 11 months
Nagarik reports that 216 people have died and over 400 have been injured in road accidents in far west Nepal. According to area police office, accidents in Sudurpaschim Province has significantly increased in the past year. SP Kedar Rajaure says that the cause for the increase in accidents are the state of the road, the increasing number of vehicles, driver’s carelessness, over speeding and overcrowding in busses and jeeps.
Interesting
District Health Office supplying expired medicines
Naya Patirka reports that the District Health Office in Pyuthan has been found sending out expired medicines to heath posts within its jurisdiction. Binod Shahi of Naubahini Rural Municipality health post says that Oxytocin which is given to women post pregnancy was expired when it arrived at the health post. The DHO however, argues that the meds were not expired when it was shipped out and put the blame of the rural municipality instead.
NTC awards MDMS to Malaysian company
Kantipur reports that Nepal Telecommunications Authority has awarded Mobile Device Management System contract to controversial Malaysian company, Nuemera. The Mobile Device Management System tracks and blocks unregistered mobiles from entering the country through grey channels.
However, Nuemera has been accused by the Malaysian public of not being able to keep their datas safe. In 2014, mobile numbers, IMEI number and house addresses of nearly 40 million customers were leaked.
Nepal and China to review trade agreement
Rajdhani reports that Nepal and China are looking to review the trade agreement. The new trade agreement will make it easier for the good made in Nepal to be exported to China. Chinese buyers will not have to pay tax on around 40 Nepali products. The new trade agreement will also make trading between Nepal and China more favourable.
