KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane sent to jail
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has been sent to Bhairahawa Jail following an order from the Rupandehi District Court on Monday. According to Court Information Officer Padam Aryal, Lamichhane was presented before the court by the District Police Office.
“The legal procedures have been completed, and he has been sent to jail,” Aryal told Khabarhub. The Tulsipur-Butwal Bench of the High Court had issued an order on Friday to remand Lamichhane in custody for trial in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud and organized crime cases.
“Test will come for others too,” says Rabi Lamichhane before jail term
Rastriya Swatantra Party (rsp) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has expressed his respect for the court’s decision and reaffirmed his intention to exercise the rights granted by law.
Before being sent to jail today, he announced his plans to appeal the lower court’s decision in a higher court. Rabi stated, “I am confident that justice will prevail from the temple of justice. However, all the doubts and suspicions raised against me will be proven wrong.”
Finance Minister appoints Neelam Dhungana as Acting Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank
Deputy Governor Neelam Dhungana has been appointed as the Acting Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel appointed Dhungana in accordance with Section 27 of the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, 2058. The Ministry of Finance has automatically assigned Deputy Governor Dhungana the responsibility of Acting Governor based on priority.
Dharan Mayor Sampang finally meets PM Oli
Dharan Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Harka Sampang met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, raising long-standing concerns about the drinking water crisis in Dharan.
During the meeting, Mayor Sampang emphasized the urgency of resolving Dharan’s chronic water shortage. In response, Prime Minister Oli assured him that the federal government has already initiated steps to address the issue.
PM Oli asserts Nepal’s commitment to peace and national interests
Prime Minister (PM) KP Oli has stated that taking an oath under the constitution and then declaring non-acceptance of it in Parliament would be a sign of dishonesty. In his address at the inaugural session of the first series of ‘Himalayan Dialogue,’ organized by Foreign Affairs Media today, Prime Minister Oli emphasized that Nepal has lagged in development due to feudal governance.
He assured that efforts are being made to advance the country’s development and good governance amid the widespread public expectations following the political changes.
KMC employees receive pending salaries
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has finally released pending salaries for its employees, ending a months-long deadlock. Starting with Mayor Balen Shah, all public representatives and staff of the metropolis have now been paid.
According to KMC spokesperson Naveen Manandhar, the metropolis has deposited salaries totaling Rs 1.13 billion to the accounts of around 2,900 staff members. Employees had not received salaries for the past three to six months.
The delay was linked to a dispute between Mayor Balen and Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain.
Nationwide school strike begins as teachers demand new education act
Schools across Nepal remained shut today as the Nepal Teachers Federation began an indefinite general strike, demanding the immediate promulgation of the long-delayed School Education Act.
Thousands of teachers and school staff from all over the country have gathered in Kathmandu to express solidarity with the movement, which has been gaining momentum since protests began last Wednesday.
The Federation is pushing for a new bill that would address longstanding concerns related to job stability, promotions, and service facilities for teachers at all levels, as well as job security for school employees.
Maoist Center calls on public to stand in solidarity with agitating teachers
The main opposition party, Maoist Center, has urged the general public to stand in solidarity with the teachers currently protesting in the federal capital, Kathmandu. In a statement issued on Monday, the Maoists expressed their full support for the teachers’ demands and encouraged the public to join the movement.
The statement, issued by party Vice Chair Agni Prasad Sapkota, who also serves as the spokesperson, called on the government to create an environment where teachers can fulfill their educational responsibilities.
NEPSE drops after Governor Adhikari’s departure
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) saw a notable decline on Monday, the first trading day following the completion of Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari’s term last Friday.
The market dropped by 32.45 points, a 1.20 percent decrease, bringing the NEPSE index to 2,670.94 points. The decline comes amid uncertainty over the government’s next appointment to the central bank’s leadership.
A total of 114,866 shares were traded on Monday, amounting to a transaction volume of Rs 5.65 billion.
Cooperative and Microfinance victims rally in Kathmandu
The National Campaign for Protection of Cooperative Depositors held a major demonstration in Kathmandu on Monday, demanding action against those involved in meter interest lending, cooperative fraud, and financial misconduct. The protest marched towards the President’s Office, calling for swift and strict government action.
The protesters — many of them victims of predatory lending and mismanaged cooperatives — gathered at Chetrapati and proceeded through Shanti Vatika, Durbar Marg, and Narayanhiti Museum, aiming to submit a memorandum to the President outlining their demands.
Protesters expressed anger over the government’s repeated failure to implement agreements and blamed rampant corruption and financial mismanagement for their worsening economic condition.
Cooperative and microfinance victims stage sit-in near President’s Office
Victims of cooperatives, microfinance institutions, and loan sharks staged a sit-in near the President’s Office on Monday, expressing outrage over the government’s failure to implement previous agreements.
Organized under the National Campaign for Protection of Cooperative Depositors, the protest was triggered by the government’s inaction in addressing long-standing financial grievances. Although the protesters aimed to demonstrate directly in front of the President’s Office, police stopped them from entering the restricted zone.
Police take Durga Prasai’s brother Rakesh into custody for questioning
Rakesh Prasai, the brother of Durga Prasai and the main coordinator of the royalist protest held on March 28, has been taken into custody by the police for questioning.
According to SP Apilraj Bohara, spokesperson for the District Police Range in Kathmandu, Rakesh was brought in for interrogation on Monday. “We have brought him for questioning. A decision on whether to release him or extend his custody will be made after reviewing his status,” SP Bohara said.
Annie Kunwar, seen inside house set on fire in Tinkune, arrested
Journalist and religious activist Annie Kunwar has been arrested in connection with the arson attack on a house in Tinkune on March 28. She was taken into custody today by police from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, Teku. A video that went viral on social media showed Kunwar descending the stairs of a house that had been set on fire.
Dozens still recovering after violence erupts at royalist rally
It has been more than a week since the royalist-led protest at Tinkune, Kathmandu on March 28, yet many of the injured—some of whom were shot without involvement in the demonstration—are still recovering in hospitals across the valley.
The protest, incited by royalist figures Nawaraj Subedi and Durga Prasai, escalated after they broke through a restricted zone, leading to a violent clash with security forces.
According to police statistics, the violence resulted in the deaths of journalist Suresh Rajak and transport worker Sabin Maharjan, while 128 people, including police personnel, were injured. Among them, 20 individuals suffered gunshot wounds—many of whom were young men and women unrelated to the protest.
Gold price continues to fall, down Rs 5,800 in two days
The price of gold has continued to decline, dropping by Rs 700 per tola today, according to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Federation. This follows a sharp decline of Rs 5,800 over the past two days, with gold prices falling Rs 3,900 per tola on Friday and Rs 1,900 on Sunday.
As of today, the price of gold stood at Rs 173,800 per tola, down from Rs 174,500 on Sunday. Last Thursday, gold had reached a record high of Rs 180,300 per tola. Meanwhile, the price of silver has increased, reaching Rs 1,830 per tola today, the Federation reported.
Parliamentary committee to monitor human rights in buffer zones
The Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives has decided to conduct on-site monitoring of the human rights situation of people living in buffer zones around protected areas across the country.
A meeting of the committee held at Singha Durbar on Monday decided to deploy four separate teams to conduct the monitoring during May. Committee Chair Bimala Subedi informed that the move comes in response to rising tensions and conflicts involving local communities, wildlife, and forest officials in buffer zone areas.
Transport Ministry to ban non-compliant vehicles
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, announced that the operation of vehicles that violate standards will be banned in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
During a discussion with transport entrepreneurs and workers at the ministry on Monday, he emphasized that the Roads and Transport Department alone cannot enforce a ban on vehicles operating against regulations, and thus, coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs will be essential.
Flights to Jomsom drop sharply as road access improves
The number of Pokhara-Jomsom air flights has dropped by two-thirds, as improved road connectivity on the Beni-Jomsom-Korla section of the national highway provides tourists with an easier and cheaper alternative to reach Mustang.
Once bustling with early-morning flights during the peak tourist season, Jomsom Airport is now seeing far fewer passengers than in previous years. According to the Jomsom Civil Aviation Office, tourist air traffic has fallen by more than 50%, largely due to the upgrading and partial blacktopping of the road connecting Beni (Myagdi) to Muktinath (Mustang).
PM Oli to address Madhesh Provincial Assembly tomorrow
Prime Minister (PM) KP Oli is scheduled to address the Madhesh Provincial Assembly tomorrow (April 8). The decision was made during an all-party meeting held at the Provincial Assembly earlier today. “It has been agreed that Prime Minister Oli will address the House on April 8,” confirmed Yubaraj Bhattarai, a provincial assembly member from the CPN-Maoist Centre and former minister.
National Potato Festival begins in Hemja
The National Potato Festival kicked off Sunday in Hemja, Pokhara Metropolitan City-25—one of Kaski district’s key potato-producing areas. The event, organized by the Bishnu Paduka Club, will run through April 16.
Club chairman Basanta Shrestha said the festival aims to promote local potato and vegetable production, boost publicity, and position Hemja as a hub for agri-tourism and commercial farming.
Health institutions in Madhes Province face drug shortages
State-run health institutions in Madhes Province are grappling with a shortage of essential medicines due to delays in procurement by the Health Supplies Centre. Frequent leadership changes at the Centre—operating under the Ministry of Health and Population of Madhes Province—along with internal disputes, have been cited as key reasons behind the failure to procure drugs on time.
International Transport Conference to be held on April 11-13
The Third International Transport Conference-2025 will be held from April 11-13, with the theme “Towards Safe, Sustainable, Efficient, and Resilient Mobility.” Organized by the Society of Transport Engineers Nepal, the conference aims to gather feedback to help formulate policies for sustainable and safe transportation.
Chairman of the Society, Dr. Hareram Shrestha, stated that the event will focus on improving the public transport system to make it more accessible, effective, and environmentally friendly.
Hetauda Cement Industry resumes production after five months
The Hetauda Cement Industry has resumed cement production today (April 7) after a hiatus of about five months. Production was suspended due to a shortage of electricity required for cement manufacturing. However, with the restoration of electricity supply, production has now resumed.
Acting General Manager Nabin Kumar Karna stated that the industry requires eight megawatts of electricity daily to process limestone.
PM Oli to inaugurate Koshi Province Tourism Year
Prime Minister KP Oli is scheduled to inaugurate the Koshi Province Tourism Year, 2082 BS. The formal inauguration ceremony will take place at the RR Garden in Laligurans Municipality-1, Tehrathum, on Wednesday, March 9, at 11:30 AM. Mayor Arjun Babu Mabohang confirmed that Prime Minister Oli will inaugurate the event.
PMC provides subsidized paddy seeds to farmers
The Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has provided subsidized paddy seeds to local farmers. Manohar Kadariya, Head of the Metropolitan City’s Agriculture Division, stated that 1,500 kg of paddy seeds have been distributed to farmers at a 50 percent subsidy.
Former Vice President Pun returns to active politics as Maoist vice-chair
Former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has formally re-entered active politics, assuming the post of vice-chair of the Maoist Center, the main opposition party led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
The party’s office bearers’ meeting held at Khumaltar on April 1 endorsed Pun’s nomination as central member, standing committee member, and vice-chairman. Although the decision to bring Pun back into politics had been made earlier, it was only recently formalized.
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