KATHMANDU: A look at Nepal’s history one year at a time — from many angles. Popular people, infamous people, politics, sports, crimes, bank heists, and many more. Here’s the big picture in a summarized package.
This comprehensive overview provides a condensed yet insightful glimpse into the nation’s past.
As we delve into the annals of 2023, Khabarhub retraces the year’s captivating narratives, spotlighting key moments, celebrated figures, and infamous characters across various domains.
The English Bureau team at Khabarhub offers reflections on the unfolding dramas that shaped the year.
The year 2023 began with enthusiasm with high hopes that the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government would take some concrete steps to bring about drastic changes in the country, end corruption, fulfill people’s aspirations…and the list goes further!
The year commenced with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ inaugurating Pokhara International Airport on January 1, 2023, coinciding with the English New Year.
On January 10, Prime Minister Prachanda secured a vote of confidence, receiving 268 votes, surpassing the required 136, with only two votes against him.
Various political parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janamat Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Unified Socialist, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Aam Janata Party, and two independent candidates, expressed confidence in Prime Minister Dahal.
Tragically, on January 15, 2023, a Yeti Air plane carrying 72 people, including four crew members, crashed near Pokhara Airport during the landing process.
On January 27, Nepal’s Supreme Court ruled against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, stating that he did not regain Nepalese citizenship according to the law.
Consequently, Lamichhane lost his positions as Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Member of Parliament.
Cabinet ministers representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party resigned on February 5, followed by the resignation of CPN-UML cabinet ministers on February 27, withdrawing their support for the government.
On March 1, Province No. 1 was officially named Koshi Province by the Provincial Assembly, completing the naming of all seven provinces.
On March 9, Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel was elected as the President, defeating CPN-UML’s Subash Chandra Nemwang. President Paudel took the oath of office on March 13 and unveiled the government’s policies and programs on March 19.
Some of the key happenings also include the arrest of as many as 32 individuals, including Former Home Minister and Nepali Congress leader, Bal Krishna Khand, in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam to extort millions of rupees from Nepali citizens.
On March 16, Nepal secured an automatic berth at the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier by defeating UAE in the ICC CWC League 2.
On March 17, Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav of Janata Samajwadi Party became the country’s 3rd Vice President.
Prime Minister Dahal secured another vote of confidence on March 20 with 172 votes in favor and 89 against.
On March 24, the final data of the country’s 12th national census, conducted in 2021, was made public, revealing a population of 29,164,578.
On June 29, Nepal’s Supreme Court issued an interim order legalizing same-sex marriage.
A tragic incident occurred on July 11, as a helicopter of Manang Air crashed near Solukhumbu, resulting in six fatalities.
On November 3, 2023, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Jajarjot in Karnali Province, claiming at least 132 lives and destroying hundreds of houses.
On November 13, the Government of Nepal decided to ban TikTok, citing its misuse.
In 2023, a fake Bhutanese refugee issue implicated 32 individuals, including former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, who was granted bail after providing a surety of 4.5 million rupees.
On September 12, the country lost former Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang, and on July 12, Prime Minister Dahal’s spouse Sita Dahal passed away. Additionally, Himalaya Shumsher Rana, the first governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, passed away on February 5, 2023.
Some of the key happenings also include the arrest of as many as 32 individuals, including Former Home Minister and Nepali Congress leader, Bal Krishna Khand, in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam to extort millions of rupees from Nepali citizens.
Likewise, in a startling revelation, the alleged team of Min Ghale, apprehended in connection with 14 kg of gold smuggled from Dubai to Nepal, was implicated in smuggling a staggering 138 kg of gold.
The perpetrators orchestrated the fraud by deceiving innocent people into falsely claiming Bhutanese refugee status and facilitating their resettlement in America.
Former Home Minister Khand, was granted bail after providing a surety of 4.5 million rupees in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee case and the money laundering case.
Khand, who was apprehended on May 10, faced serious allegations linked to the counterfeit Bhutanese refugee issue.
Similarly, Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rizal, allegedly involved in the Fake Bhutanese Refugee Scam, settled the bail amount in court for release from custody.
Likewise, in a startling revelation, the alleged team of Min Ghale, apprehended in connection with 14 kg of gold smuggled from Dubai to Nepal, was implicated in smuggling a staggering 138 kg of gold.
The report asserts that Min Ghale, in collaboration with Chandra Ghale and Krishna Kumar Shrestha, were involved in a persistent pattern of smuggling gold into Nepal.
Meanwhile, a Chinese national was apprehended in connection with the seizure of two kilograms of gold in Nagdhunga. Chen Zhiwei, the smuggling suspect, has been residing in Sohrakhutte, Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, in the final month of 2023, two individuals, Birendra Shah (22) from Doti and Sujan Rawat (23) from Dailekh, succumbed to injuries sustained in a confrontation with police personnel during a demonstration in Balkumari, Lalitpur, on December 29.
Preceding this tragic event, protestors set ablaze a vehicle belonging to the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, triggering a clash between protestors and law enforcement officers.
In response to the escalating situation, the police resorted to firing blank shots and deploying tear gas shells to regain control.
International events:
In 2023, the halfway point was reached for three major UN-led agreements established in 2015: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on development finance.
The UN orchestrated various efforts throughout the year to assess global progress and stimulate renewed investment for each initiative.
Events such as the SDG Summit and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) brought together diverse stakeholders.
Simultaneously, strides were made in urging reforms for international financial institutions, and progress was achieved with the Bridgetown Initiative.
However, persistent natural disasters and man-made crises continued to divert attention and resources, undermining cooperation on a global scale.
Throughout this year, notable international conflicts endured, including the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict and the emergence of new ones like the Israeli-Palestinian war.
These conflicts carried far-reaching political, social, and economic ramifications that reverberated globally.
In 2023, Portugal demonstrated ongoing support for Ukrainian refugees by extending temporary protections to them amidst the challenging geopolitical landscape.
Meanwhile, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the militant group in control of the Gaza Strip, began when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7.
In response, Israel swiftly declared war, conducting deadly bombardments in Gaza.
As of December, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the death of more than 20,000 people in Israel and at least 15,899 in Gaza, according to authorities on both sides.
The global impact of the conflict is reflected in financial markets, with increases in the prices of oil and gold. Airlines are expected to face challenges due to higher fuel costs, leading some to secure oil derivatives contracts as a hedge against price surges.
This has had repercussions on specific companies, such as Singapore Airlines, which has seen a decline in its stock value as analysts reduce target prices.
Despite these global repercussions, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated in November that the impact on Singapore is anticipated to be minimal, given the country’s limited trade and investment connections with the conflicting parties.
Shifting focus to the tech industry, artificial intelligence (AI) has gained widespread adoption, with individuals and companies incorporating it into their daily lives and production processes.
This trend is expected to persist as AI continues to play an increasingly prevalent role across various industries.
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