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As the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision on the expansion of Birgunj’s highway progresses, homeowners and traders along the main road have begun protesting against it. On March 12, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Road Department’s plan to widen the main road from Gandak Chowk to Miteri Bridge via Murali, Ghantaghar, Maisthan, Adarshnagar, Chhapakaiya, and Birgunj Customs. The expansion, covering 25 meters on both sides, falls under the Tribhuvan Highway.

To enforce this decision, the Road Division Office, Hetauda, ​​directed the Survey Office, Birgunj, on March 22 to demarcate the designated area for expansion. Additionally, in a meeting on March 19, initiated by Birgunj Metropolitan City, government office heads along the main road pledged to remove their structures immediately. However, as soon as implementation began, affected homeowners and traders started protesting. They demand that the government compensate them for their properties if the expansion proceeds.

Jawahar Prasad Gupta, coordinator of the Birgunj Bachau Sangharsha Committee, announced that the Birgunj market would be closed on Thursday morning until noon. He added that homeowners and traders would gather at Adarshnagar Chowk at 10 am, march to the District Administration Office in Parsa, and submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Chief District Officer.

A meeting of affected homeowners and traders has been scheduled for Wednesday at Ranisati Athi Sadan, where further protest plans will be decided. Gupta, also the ward chairman of Birgunj-9, stated, “We want development, but not at the cost of making us homeless.” He argued that expanding the main road by 25 meters on each side is unnecessary, as alternative roads, including bypass and inner bypass routes, already exist. According to him, the expansion would displace over 1,100 homeowners and disrupt businesses operating in the affected buildings.

Arvind Gupta, a homeowner in Murali, criticized the decision’s execution, stating, “The full text of the Supreme Court’s verdict has not been released, yet authorities are using fear tactics against homeowners and traders.” He vowed to continue protesting, saying, “We will take to the streets, no matter the consequences.” He further argued that many streets in Birgunj lack adequate space for fire engines and ambulances, yet the focus remains on demolishing the main road, which he believes would erase the city’s history and character. “If the expansion goes through, Birgunj will lose its identity,” he added.

The road widening project has faced resistance for three decades. In 2012, affected homeowners sought legal action after the government ordered the removal of structures in the designated area. In 2019, residents—including Laxman Sah Rauniyar, Birendra Kumar Sanghai, Rajkumari Devi Tulsyan, Bharatsah Rauniyar, and Sudhir Kumar Barnawal—filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court, demanding cancellation of the project, compensation, and an alternative route. After 27 hearings, on March 12, a joint bench of Justices Binod Sharma and Mahesh Sharma Poudel dismissed the petition, ruling in favor of the government.

Police have arrested Umesh Prasad Jayaswal, owner of the Shivanagar-based Ananda Hospital, after he was found operating the health facility against the set standard.

A few days ago, Madhes Pradesh Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh had ordered the closure of the hospital after it was found not meeting the set standard during the inspection.

However, Jayaswal continued his fraudulent business by admitting new patients, disobeying the Chief Minister's order.

The hospital was found to have lacked standard doctors, equipment, and infrastructure, SP Dilip Ghimire, Chief at the District Police Office, Rautahat, informed.

He said that police arrested him today after receiving information that Jayaswal was operating the hospital illegally and even charging high fees.

DSP Dilip Kumar Raya, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Rautahat, said that investigation into the incident is underway.

Opposition parties have disrupted today's meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) demanding the Prime Minister's reply over the removal of Kulman Ghising from the post of Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority.

As soon as Speaker Devraj Ghimire started today's meeting, the opposition lawmakers stood up from their seats in protest. The Speaker had given time to CPN (Maoist Center) lawmaker Shakti Bahadur Basnet to speak at the outset of the meeting.

Lawmaker Basnet charged the government of removing Ghising to fulfill the vested interest of some groups.

Stating that the decision to remove Ghising should be withdrawn, he said the Prime Minister should answer on the issue.

As soon as lawmaker Basnet made his statement, the opposition lawmakers again stood up and protested. After this, Speaker Ghimire postponed the House session for 30 minutes.

According to the HoR meeting agenda, the 'Banking Offences and Punishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2080' along with the message received from the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament, is to be tabled in today's meeting.

Similarly, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Kumar Chaurasia is scheduled to present a proposal seeking consideration of the Nepal Council of Legal Practitioners (Second Amendment) Bill, 2081 BS which originated in the National Assembly.

Similarly, the minister is scheduled to present a proposal seeking a passage of the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers and Procedures) (First Amendment) Bill, 2081 BS.

Life insurance companies collected more than Rs 100bn in premiums over the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2024-25.

According to the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA)—the insurance sector regulator—14 life insurance companies and three micro life insurers collected Rs 109.43bn in premiums between mid-July last year and mid-March. In the eighth month alone, life insurers and micro life insurers collected
Rs 13.42bn in premiums, statistics unveiled by the NIA show.

The breakdown of premiums shows that insurance companies collected Rs 21.12bn as the first insurance premium, Rs 1.96bn as premiums from foreign employment coverage, and Rs 85.61bn as renewal premiums. Micro-insurers contributed Rs 724.6m to the total, including Rs 401.2m as new premiums, Rs 314.8m as foreign employment premiums, and Rs 8.5m as renewal premiums.

Nepal Life Insurance leads the market with Rs 29.39bn collected in insurance premiums over the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Next were National Life Insurance and LIC Nepal, with total premium collections of Rs 13.62bn and Rs 12.56bn, respectively.

According to the NIA, life insurers collected Rs 13.32bn in premiums between mid-February and mid-March of the current fiscal year. Fourteen life insurers sold 419,253 policies worth Rs 146.23bn in sum assured during the review month. Likewise, three micro-insurers sold 46,997 policies worth
Rs 99.3m in the same period.

According to the NIA, new premium collections increased by 7.2 percent in the eight-month period. There was also an increase in renewal premium collection by the country’s 14 life insurance companies, which collected a total of Rs 79.86bn during the review period.

While Nepal Life Insurance and LIC Nepal lead in total premium collection, Reliable Nepal Life and Citizen Life Insurance have shown the highest growth rates in renewal premiums.

Nepal Life Insurance emerged as the top performer in renewal premium collection during the eight-month period, generating Rs 23.92bn—an 8.47 percent increase compared to the same period last fiscal year. LIC Nepal followed with a growth of 6.04 percent to Rs 10.84bn. National Life Insurance and Himalayan Life Insurance collected Rs 10.17bn and Rs 9.55bn in renewal premiums, respectively.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra successfully navigated a no-confidence vote in parliament following an intense two-day debate in the first test of her premiership, emerging unscathed from a two-day opposition onslaught to reaffirm the stability of her coalition, Reuters reported.

Thailand's youngest premier received the support of 319 out of 488 lawmakers present, despite a barrage of criticism during a censure debate accusing her of being unqualified, lacking economic knowledge, evading taxes, serving her wealthy family, and taking orders from her billionaire father and political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 173, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 173, 300 per tola on Tuesday.  

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1, 990 per tola today.

Opposition parties have decided to protest from the streets and Parliament against the government decision to remove Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Kulman Ghising from his post.

A meeting of the opposition parties held on Wednesday morning made the decision to this effect.

Saying that the government sacked Ghising from the top post of the NEA, just months before the completion of his second term, by breaching the law, the meeting decided to protest against the decision.

After the meeting, Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Santosh Pariyar said that they would not allow the House to proceed with its business until the Prime Minister answered the reasons for Ghising’s removal.

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“The government removed Ghising from the post of Managing Director of power utility by imposing the power of a two-thirds majority. We will strongly oppose this in the Parliament. We will also take to the streets,” he said, adding, “The government has taken every decision against the rule of law. We request the government to correct itself.”

In the meeting, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that he had a discussion about the issues of transitional justice with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba a few days ago but not about Kulman Ghising.

A massive fire broke out at Central Plaza in Itahari on Wednesday.

Businessman Rajesh Shrestha is the owner of the plaza.

Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Baranda Hotel, and dozens of businesses are operating in Central Plaza.

DSP Laxmi Bhandari of the Area Police Office, Itahari said that the fire started from the fourth and fifth floor of the nine-storey building.

Four fire engines from Damak are trying to douse the fire.