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National Assembly member Narayan Kaji Shrestha has demanded that the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari should immediately resign.

Speaking in the ‘special hour’ of the Upper House session today (Thursday), he said a name of the member of the CPN (UML)’s Economic and Planning Department is mentioned as M Adhikari and it is the NRB Governor’s shortened name.

The name was mentioned as Maha Prasad Adhikari as one of the members of the Department in 2073 BS but it has been changed now as M Adhikari, mentioning him as economist and planning expert.

“Either documents proving that the name M Adhikari is not the NRB Governor should be made public, if not he should resign from the post of Governor,” Shrestha, also the senior leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre), said.

He has drawn the attention of the UML and the concerned authorities in this connection. “The UML has not refuted this matter in a credible way and the question of whether or not it can do it is serious,” leader Shrestha reiterated.

“Is it proper for him to remain in the post when there is a clear provision in Clause 21 of NRB Act 2058 BS that the Governor, Deputy Governor or any Board member should not be associated in any political party?”

Lawmaker Shrestha also called for withdrawing the bill related to the Constitutional Council, stating that previous government’s works done according to the same provisions had been protested but the same bill is presented in parliament now. He stressed that there should not be double standards regarding the laws while in government and when not in government.

Leader Shrestha also suggested not taking foreign assistance for the election.

Government’s attention drawn on systematizing foreign employment 

Meanwhile, the lawmakers have drawn the attention of the government to the need of making the foreign employment sector dignified and systematic.

They also complained that there has been no change in the situation of Nepali youths to go abroad for employment and having to carry out risky works for lack of adequate employment opportunities at home.

Prakash Pantha said there were no equal facilities and provisions for the youths who have gone abroad for employment. He wondered why such situation existed.

He also underscored the need of making arrangements for the provision of equal facilities to them and to strictly check the practice of the foreign employment agents duping the foreign employment aspirant youths.

Bhairab Sundar Shrestha said life has been affected due to the floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in various places of Jajarkot district in recent days.

He stressed the need of collaboration between the government, opposition and all the sides concerned for resolving the looming economic crisis in the country.

The CPN-UML has clarified that M Adhikari of the Finance and Planning Department is not Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari of Rastra Bank.

In a letter sent to Governor Adhikari, UML Office Secretary Bhisma Adhikari said that the person mentioned in the department as M Adhikari, Khotang is not the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Maha Prasad Adhikari.

Earlier on Wednesday, Government Adhikari wrote a letter to the Central Office of UML saying that he was not affiliated to any political party.

Saying that the formation of the department has created confusion, he urged the UML leadership to clarify the issue.

As per his request, the UML wrote a letter and made it clear that M Adhikari of the department is not Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu has said ambassadors have an important role in attracting foreign direct investment to Nepal.

Addressing a program on 'Interaction between Ambassadors and Entrepreneurs for Export Promotion' organised by the Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal here today, he said the ambassadors could play a significant role in expanding Nepal's exports.

"Bringing maximum foreign currency into the country by expanding the export of goods produced within the country is the need of the hour. I have the confidence that ambassadors appointed to various countries will work for the same," Minister Badu said.

He said Nepal's trade deficit could be reduced only by increasing exports and replacing imports. "The government is always positive about formulating the laws and policies required for export promotion. Similarly, the government is always willing to collaborate with the private sector for promoting export by increasing national production," the Industry, Commerce and Supplies minister added.

According to him, the government has made arrangements for subsidies and incentives for the businesses to promote exports. He also stated that the government was positive about organising an international trade fair for the promotion of goods produced in Nepal.

Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bharat Raj Paudyal highlighted the important role the diplomatic missions had in making arrangements for exporting the goods produced in Nepal to third countries in a convenient manner.

Secretary Paudyal expressed the belief that the interaction with ambassadors would contribute to export promotion. He informed that the ministry had been holding interaction with 40 diplomatic missions of Nepal in foreign countries once every six months.

Secretary Paudyal suggested forming a permanent mechanism comprising representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Ministry of Forests and entrepreneurs for the promotion of Nepali export.

Likewise, he laid emphasis on studying the feasibility of domestic raw materials and its production as well as moving ahead by creating a joint strategy in government-private sector partnership by making 50 per cent investment in infrastructure or free of cost for operating export trade.

FEEN president Gurung said ambassadors had a huge role in facilitating Nepali exports and export entrepreneurs.

He urged the ambassadors to take the initiative for making business agreements that would support the export of Nepali goods.

He called on the government to play a pivotal role in carrying out research and development of exportable goods and for promoting of goods with a higher possibility for exports.

According to FEEN, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1,308 billion in fiscal 2021-22 whereas it exported goods worth Rs 141 billion only. On the occasion, the ambassadors committed support from their respective sides for the promotion of Nepal's export trade.

Home Minister Balkrishna Khand has directed the authorities concerned to immediately arrange rescue, relief and residence for those rendered displaced due to landslide at Arughat rural municiplaity-1, Shyamchet in Gorkha.

Home Minister Khand directed Home Administration, Ministry’s disaster management division, Chief District Officer of Gorkha Shanker Hari Acharya and district-based security agencies to arrange treatment to the landslide survivors.

CDO Acharya said landslide had buried the home of locals including Bir Bahadur Gurung and the entire village was at risk with landslide taking place from both sides of the village.

CDO Acharya shared that a team of Nepal police and Armed Police Force had reached the landslide-hit area on Wednesday evening to rescue the disaster survivors.

As informed, the landslide had buried six houses. No human casualty has occurred in the site.