PM Balen breaks from tradition: No fanfare, no guard of honour as he heads to UNGA

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah will travel to New York on Tuesday to attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA), with the government dropping the customary airport farewell in what officials say reflects the gravity of the situation following the Bhotekoshi floods.

According to the Prime Minister’s Private Secretariat, no formal farewell programme, including the customary military guard of honour, red carpet reception and VIP arrangements, will be held at the airport. The decision was made at Shah’s direction as the country mourns the deaths and devastation caused by the recent floods in the Bhotekoshi region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said ministers, senior government officials, security chiefs and foreign diplomats have not been invited to the airport for the farewell. Arrangements have instead been made for the prime minister’s vehicle to proceed directly from the VIP area to the aircraft parking bay.

According to the authorities, 1,451 people have died and 5,745 remain missing following the Bhotekoshi floods on Bhadra 10.

Shah had considered cancelling his participation in the UN General Assembly in view of the disaster. He ultimately decided to travel to New York, citing the need to raise the issue of Nepal’s disaster situation and climate change on the international stage.

Shah has also decided not to hold bilateral meetings with foreign heads of government during his stay in New York. He is scheduled to address the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly on Thursday and make a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres the same day.

The decision to forgo bilateral meetings and the traditional airport farewell has generated discussion on social media, particularly given Shah’s departure from established diplomatic and official protocols.

Shah will travel to New York via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, accompanied by a limited delegation, including Chief Adviser Kumar Byanjanakar and Chief Protocol Officer Kumar Kharel.

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has already arrived in New York and is engaged in bilateral meetings with his counterparts. Shah is scheduled to return to Nepal Saturday.