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A 15-year-old boy died after being buried by a landslide at Darlingkhola in Badigad Rural Municipality-9 of Baglung on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Bidhan Pariyar, according to the Area Police Office, Bhimgoth. The body has been kept at the Burtibang Primary Health Center for autopsy. He died when a mudslide buried a house.

Similarly, three houses were buried by a landslide at Darling of Badigad Rural Municipality-10.

The disaster-affected site lies in a remote area and police are struggling to reach there, it is said.

Local people's representative Krishna Bahadur KC said it has not been confirmed yet whether there were people inside the buried houses.

Balkrishna Basnet is the chairperson of the Press Council Nepal (PCN), an autonomous and independent media regulatory body set up by the Government of Nepal. PCN oversees the freedom of the press and advises the government on development of policies for the same. In recent times, the council has given hope to many in the media sector because of the work it has done in promoting professional journalism, strict implementation of journalistic code of conduct and  supporting journalists.

Basnet, who is from Dolakha, was always interested in the media sector. But he pursued a degree in law after high school. He is a licensed attorney who has handled many cases related to the media in his career. His foray into media happened as his interest in the field grew over time. He says he realized the media had the power to change our society and that was fascinating. “The media reflects the society and makes them aware of its issues. Sharing information and knowledge is only possible through media,” he says.

He is now actively contributing to the transformation of the Nepali journalism landscape. Since 2021, he has been in charge of the press council operations, including duties related to regulating and advancing the media in Nepal.

In his 25 years of experience at Chhalphal weekly, Kantipur Daily as well as its online counterpart, he has had the opportunity to deal with many reporters, editors, and publishers. After conducting extensive research and gaining more experience in the field, he became aware of the issues the media faces in Nepal. He also realized that the digital landscape was proving to be a challenge for mainstream media.

“I want to do what I can to address the problems journalism and journalists face in Nepal and make sure the media prospers in all its forms,” he says.

In the past six months, the council has implemented a new code of conduct for content creators on YouTube. Basnet saw there was a dire need for regulation on content on the online platform. It’s a relatively new project that the council has undertaken and it’s garnering a lot of national and international support. In the past month, 83 YouTube channels have been banned, with the channel operators being called in for an orientation class.

“Even in India, there’s no policy to manage YouTube content. So, I’d say what we’ve done is a bold step in ensuring the public only has access to authentic news,” says Basnet, adding that it’s not difficult to regulate online content but it does take time to implement the rules and regulations.

Basnet believes print media can thrive if they focus on innovative content, investigative reporting, and take some of their stories online. He says different media groups could join hands to provide authentic and impactful stories. This, he says, could increase their credibility and popularity.

The council has asked media houses in Nepal to make their own in-house rules and internal code of conduct. This, he says, will help create a strong sense of ethics within the publication houses and ultimately make journalism in Nepal stronger and better.

“I’m also aware about the importance of making journalists in different parts of Nepal more open to becoming digitally savvy. So, the council is conducting various programs for it,” he says. Apart from that, it’s also attempting to collect data on the history of journalism to have a better sense of what can be done to preserve it.

Basnet says the PCN is taking every aspect of journalism seriously, including journalistic integrity. If someone violates the journalistic rights or the code of conduct, they are subjected to an improvement class, their press permit is revoked, and they are placed on a blacklist. The council has been conducting orientation programs for new users of online media platforms, and people aren’t allowed to establish more than one media under the same name.

However, Basnet says that there isn’t a lot of support from the government and that it could do a lot more to ensure the media’s stability. There are many projects that the press council wants to implement and it would be helpful if the government would finalize the budget for those. “Government support is crucial to take the media forward. There is only so much the press council can do,” he says.

The media is an invaluable link between the public and the government. Its importance can’t be ignored, especially where dissemination of information is concerned. But journalism requires patience, dedication, and a genuine effort to stay updated. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, he says. “Those who are doing it must be given the support s/he needs,” he says.

Basnet says the council has recently increased discussions and interactions focused on creative and solution-oriented journalism including editor dialogues and newsroom interactions. “It’s the media's responsibility to raise questions and give possible solutions and options. When the media does that instead of just highlighting the problems, it’s considered creative and solution-oriented journalism,” he says, adding there are various campaigns being held to help provide Nepali journalism the edge it needs to thrive.

Under Basnet’s leadership, significant initiatives are being taken to monitor and regulate social media, including YouTube. So far, YouTube has not been able to provide much information or news. Basnet says the council is working to look at YouTube differently and welcome it as a form of media. He clarifies that not all YouTubers are journalists, but all journalists can be good YouTubers. To address this, the council has established a different procedure, following decisions by the Supreme Court. Some controversial content from YouTube channels has been removed or edited.

“There is a lot of negative content along with the good on YouTube and other social networks. It should be separated and identified, like rice and chaff,” he says. “If creative and solution-oriented materials are introduced, some of the current wrong trends will end by themselves.”

In view of the recent developments in Bangladesh, Nepal has increased vigilance in the border areas.

Vigilance along with additional forces has been increased in the border areas and international transit points to avoid infiltration and illegal entry of foreign nationals.

Following directives of the Central Security Committee, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepal have stated that a circular has been issued to subordinate units to strengthen the security by increasing personnel based on need and to adopt high vigilance along with the assessment of the situation.

Spokesperson of Nepal Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, said that the security system has been bolstered by deploying additional forces along with the currently deployed security personnel. "Security personnel have been instructed to be alert at the airport and entry and exit points, especially in the Tarai and areas bordering with neighboring India, and make security arrangements after assessing potential risks."

Likewise, spokesperson of Armed Police Force Nepal, Deputy Inspector General Kumar Neupane, shared that security has been strengthened by increasing personnel in the border areas while remaining alert to the infiltration of people from other countries.

Eleven containers loaded with molasses for exports to Bangladesh have been stuck along the eastern transit point, Kakarbhitta.

Protest that began last month over a 'controversial' quota system for governmental jobs has now escalated to nationwide unrest. Its direct impact has been seen on Nepal's trade as well.  

The trade with Bangladesh that had come to a total halt in mid-July resumed a few days ago. But again, the border has been closed for the next three days.

According to Nepal Transit and Warehousing Management Company Limited, branch office, Kakarbhitta, some containers have remained stuck in the Phulbari-Banglabandh transitional transit point of Nepal, India, and Bhutan.

Similarly, containers en route to Nepal from Bangladesh have failed to cross the transit.

Office Chief Subash Pandey said the supplies were disrupted with the unrest becoming intense.  "We have no idea how long it will take to return to normalcy."

According to the Office data, in the first 11 days of the current fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25), Nepal exported goods worth over Rs 13.5 million to Bangladesh while the value of imports exceeded Rs 206.5 million.

The Mechi Customs Office, Kakarbhitta said Nepal exports pulse, herbal products, molasses, foodstuff, animal feed, Khayar (Black catechu), and coloring agents to Bangladesh.

It imports jute, soybean husk, allopathic medicines, lead-acid batteries, garments, fruit juice, glass sheets, biscuits, and chocolates from Bangladesh.  Nepali students who had been in Bangladesh in the course of pursuing higher degrees in various universities have returned home following the unrest.