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Leaked audio verified by the BBC reveals that former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina authorised the use of lethal force against student-led protests last year. In the recording, Hasina is heard instructing security forces to “shoot wherever they find protesters.”

The protests, initially sparked by opposition to civil service job quotas, escalated into a mass movement that led to Hasina’s ousting after 15 years in power. UN investigators estimate up to 1,400 people were killed in the unrest, marking the worst violence in Bangladesh since the 1971 war.

Hasina, now in India, is being tried in absentia at a special tribunal for crimes against humanity. Prosecutors plan to use the leaked 18 July phone call as key evidence. Independent forensic analysis by the BBC and experts confirmed the recording’s authenticity and ruled out manipulation.

Despite denials from Hasina’s Awami League party, legal experts say the recording clearly establishes her direct role in the violent crackdown, BBC reported.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inspected the flood-hit areas in Rasuwa district. 

During the visit, Prime Minister Oli held discussions with the local administrators, people's representatives and local residents there regarding the losses, rescue and relief.   

So far, 20 people have been reported missing in the disaster including three Nepali Police personnel, five drivers, six workers of the dry port and six Chinese nationals.

Likewise, the plant of the 111 megawatt capacity Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project and the Chilime Hydropower Project of 20 megawatts have suffered damages leading to the suspension of power generation from the two projects. 

The flood in the Lhende river also swept away the Miteri Bridge along the Nepal-China border, disconnecting the cross border connectivity there. 

Prime Minister Oli was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Energy Minister Dipak Khadka, PM's chief advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, chief secretary of government Eaknarayan Aryal, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song and chiefs of all four security bodies in the inspection team.

Protesting doctors have put off their protest after the government and Nepal Medical Association reached a three-point agreement. 

Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Population and the Nepal Medical Council, the umbrella organization of the medical doctors, were present in the agreement signing ceremony.

Doctors across the country had been staging protests over the Consumer Court's verdict that imposed hefty penalties on the doctors found guilty of gross negligence that led to serious complications and patients' death. 

The healthcare providers had been shutting down all services except for emergencies in the private and public healthcare facilities across the country.

As per the newly inked agreement, a task force would be formed to furnish recommendations on the amendment on the existing legal and policy provisions. The team has been tasked to submit a report within seven days.

Similarly, it has been agreed that the report received from the task force will be submitted to the dialogue team and implemented accordingly. 

It has also been agreed that the concerned ministry will seek in-principle consent from the Council of Ministers within 11 days for the necessary amendments to the existing legal and policy provisions, including the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 BS, and that the process for amending the law through the fast-track method will be taken forward.

As a result, the Nepal Medical Association has agreed to suspend all types of protests with effect from today and resume regular services.

It may be noted that the doctors had launched the protest demanding amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 BS, after the Consumer Court imposed hefty penalties including financial compensation to some hospitals and doctors for negligence in the treatment of patients.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has left for Rasuwa to inspect the damages caused by devastating floods in the Lhende Stream and the Bhotekoshi River along the Nepal-China border.

He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka, and the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal.

Among others leaving for Rasuwa are Chief Secretary Eak Narayan Aryal, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel, Inspector General of Nepal Police Deepak Thapa, Inspector General of the Armed Police Force Raju Aryal, and Chief of the National Investigation Department Hutraj Thapa.

In the meantime, the reports from Rasuwa stated that 57 people were entrapped in the floods and landslides from the Lhende Stream last night. 

Among them, 30 were rescued by a Nepal Army helicopter. Eighteen people remain missing, including three police personnel: Lal Bahadur Shrestha, Munna Thakur, and Lokendra Bohora.

The District Administration Office, Rasuwa, confirmed that other missing individuals include Jipan Chaudhary, Santosh Dahit, Buddhiram Tharu, Laxmi Narayan Tharu, and Suresh Tharu from Bardiya, and Naresh BK from Baglung. Phurba Lama from Sindhupalchowk and two others: Govinda Moktan and Lokman Tamang whose addresses are yet to be confirmed. Among the missing are six Chinese nationals.

The Directorate of Public Relations of the Nepali Army stated that 294 army personnel from Dhading and additional troops from Rasuwa have been deployed in 17 locations to search for the missing.

Meanwhile, human body parts have been found in four separate locations along the Trishuli River that also experienced a severe flood last night.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, reported that the flooding has caused significant damage to the under-construction dry port at Timure in Rasuwagadhi. Around 75% of the project, funded by the Government of China, had already been completed. The minister said the government will request China's assistance to restore the damaged facility.

Electric vehicles kept at the dry port are believed to have been washed away by the flood.