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The Election Commission (EC) has made an arrangement that the political parties can obtain details of voters across the country by paying certain charges. 

According to the House of Representatives Member Elections Directive prepared by the EC, the political parties can access the list of voters across the country by paying Rs 10,000. 

For this, arrangements have been made to provide the information to parties registered for election purposes in the commission. 

The commission will provide the details electronically except for the voter's date of birth, citizenship number, and mobile number, it is stated. 

The commission will provide such details on a hard drive or pen drive. The details of one province can be obtained by paying Rs 5,000.

The election officer should allow any voter, party representative, or candidate wishing to see or transfer the voter list name at their own expense to do so in a manner that does not permit tearing, damaging or tampering with the voter list. 

As per the arrangement, If a voter wishes to obtain their own voter list, the election office should provide a copy of the list containing only the particular voter's details upon charging Rs 10,000. 

Similarly, the election office should provide an electronic copy of the voter list to political parties and independent candidates upon charging Rs 3,000 for the district list and equal charge for the voter list of any single electoral constituency. 

Five days after the United States captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the Government of Nepal has formally reacted, stating that it has been closely following recent developments in Venezuela.

Maduro was captured in a joint US military extraction operation in the country’s capital, Caracas.

Issuing a press statement, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Nepal calls upon all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid actions that may further escalate tensions.

“Nepal underscores the importance of fully respecting the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of states, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,” the statement said. Nepal emphasized that disputes should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual understanding.

Earlier this week, youth and student wings affiliated with communist political parties staged demonstrations in front of the US Embassy in Maharajgunj, protesting the US military action in Venezuela. Similarly, major communist parties such as the CPN-UML, led by KP Sharma Oli, and the Nepali Communist Party, led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, issued separate press statements criticizing the US intervention. However, the Nepali Congress party and its leaders have not made any remarks regarding the US action.

Other South Asian countries have also reacted to the development. India said the situation in Venezuela is a matter of deep concern. In a statement, India reaffirmed its support for the well-being and safety of the Venezuelan people and called on all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Bangladesh also emphasized the need for diplomacy and dialogue. “Bangladesh believes that diplomacy and dialogue should prevail to resolve all disputes between countries and reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law,” Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

While the nation remains preoccupied with election-related politics, troubling developments are unfolding in the Tarai-Madhes region. Tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities have intensified in recent days, pushing the situation on the ground toward a fragile and vulnerable state.

Several parts of the southern plains have witnessed clashes and rising hostility, forcing local administrations to impose extended prohibitory orders and curfews to prevent further escalation. Although the situation has temporarily calmed following a five-point agreement signed by political parties and key stakeholders, past patterns suggest that the risk of renewed unrest remains high.

Under the agreement, religious protests and movements have been banned in Birgunj. In a welcome step, a Harmony Committee comprising representatives from both Hindu and Muslim communities has been formed to foster dialogue and prevent misunderstandings. 

While inter-community tensions in the Madhes are not new, the worrying factor today is their growing intensity and frequency—raising fears of wider and more dangerous confrontations. Over the years, disputes linked to religious processions, provocative social media content, and political mobilization have repeatedly triggered clashes, particularly in urban centers such as Birgunj. These incidents increasingly threaten the region’s long-standing tradition of social coexistence and communal harmony.

For a long time, the Nepali Army has cautioned successive governments and political parties about the deteriorating security situation in the region. Yet these warnings have largely gone unheeded. Compounding the problem, misinformation and disinformation circulating on social media continue to inflame emotions and provoke both communities.

Amid the recent unrest, Vice-president Ramsahya Prasad Yadav issued a public appeal urging citizens to refrain from spreading rumors, engaging in provocation, or resorting to violence. He warned that the misunderstandings, hostility, and conflicts witnessed in recent days have seriously challenged Nepal’s social harmony and pose a grave concern for the nation as a whole. Observers say  governments should carve out a multi-prong strategy to deal with the unfolding situation in Madhes.

US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson and Dr Suresh Suras Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTA) signed a Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) to safeguard Nepal’s cultural heritage and prevent illicit trafficking of artifacts. 

Under the agreement, the US will restrict import of designated Nepali archaeological (32,000 BCE–1770 CE) and ethnological (13th c.–1950) materials unless accompanied by a Nepali export certificate. Covered items include religious objects, manuscripts, and architectural elements.

The CPA strengthens bilateral cooperation, curbs looting, promotes responsible stewardship, supports cultural tourism, and fosters collaboration with US museums and researchers.

On the occasion, Ambassador Thompson stated, “the CPA underscores the deep respect the United States holds for Nepal’s cultural heritage.  It strengthens cooperation to prevent illicit trafficking, supports lawful cultural exchange, and reinforces our shared responsibility to protect Nepal’s cultural heritage for future generations.”

Secretary for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Mukunda Prasad Niroula said, “The Government of Nepal would like to thank the Government of the United States for its continued partnership in protecting Nepal’s cultural heritage.  Over the past two decades, this partnership through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation and now the Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) reflects the strong Nepal–U.S. collaboration and our shared commitment to preventing illicit trafficking of cultural property and preserving cultural heritage for future generations.”

With 30 such agreements in force worldwide, the United States is a global leader in cultural heritage preservation.

The Cultural Property Agreement with Nepal builds on the United States’ longstanding commitment to protecting Nepal’s sovereignty and heritage, which includes support through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) for 28 projects over the past two decades.  

These projects have restored historic monuments and manuscripts, safeguarded cultural heritage sites, and recently established Nepal’s first modern conservation laboratory in Lumbini.