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From an early age, Bhumika Shrestha had a fascination with makeup and other traditionally “feminine” pursuits. She likes hanging out with girls and develops crushes on boys. 

For the most part of her adolescent life, she felt confused and guilty for having feminine emotions and the body of a boy. When she was in tenth grade, she was expelled from school for affirming her sexual identity. Though the incident prevented Bhumika from pursuing higher studies, it was a liberating experience. It was then she resolved to dedicate her life to help the queer community. 

Today, Shrestha, 35, is a proud trans woman and a prominent LGBTQIA+ activist. She now works as a project manager for Blue Diamond Society, an organization that works for the gender minority community. Under her leadership, she has improved the conditions of transgender community by advocating for citizenship rights, marriage equality, and job opportunities.

After joining the Blue Diamond Society, she learned about the harrowing experiences of queer  people, including abuse, family abandonment, and humiliation. Their suffering ignited within her a passion to take action on behalf of the trans community.

Bhumika considers herself lucky, as her family always supported her. But she couldn’t escape society’s judgments. “Back then, I used to hide in my room out of fear of how people would perceive me,” she says.

Currently, Bhumika collaborates with various government bodies, policymaking institutions, and law enforcement agencies to improve sexual health, human rights, and the well-being of gender minorities.  In 2007, she competed in a trans beauty pageant, winning the title of ‘Miss Pink.’ This gave her greater opportunities to advocate for the transgender community. 

However, she faced the absurdity of having to identify herself as male in her citizenship document, despite representing herself internationally as a trans woman. Back then, the citizenship certificate bore only two gender categories: male and female. 

“I was dressed up in a woman’s outfit, but I had to change and wear a Dhaka Topi as male for my citizenship photo,” she says. 

This experience urged Bhumika to launch a campaign in 2007 to change the outdated requirements imposed on Nepal’s citizenship law, and the Supreme Court ruled that individuals can be identified as ‘other gender’ on citizenship. 

Bhumika became the first Nepali trans woman to travel internationally with an ‘others’  identity in her citizenship document. Later, she updated her document from ‘others’ to ‘female.’

Nepal has made progress in recognizing non-binary communities and has legalized same-sex marriage, Bhumika is still critical of th gap between policy formulation and implementation.  For instance, the court’s order to register same-sex marriage has not been practically enforced. Then there is a bizarre requirement for medical evidence of identity to obtain citizenship as a transgender. 

“Such outdated expectations are stifling the true emotions and aspirations of LGBTIQA+ persons,” says Bhumika.

She shares  the heart-wrenching realities of her friends who suffered discrimination and abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading some to tragically end their lives. The Blue Diamond Society was their only lifeline at the time. 

“The majority of our funding  comes from international donors such as USAID and UNDP. The government is not concerned at all,” says Bhumika. 

She expects the government to ensure equal opportunities and greater political representation for the queer community.

Over the years, the concept of gender in Nepal has expanded beyond homosexuality, there is still a long way to go when it comes to ensuring the rights of LGBTIQA+ community. Individuals like Bhumika and organizations like the Blue Diamond Society have been working tirelessly to ensure the rights and representation of queer community. 

For her unrelenting activism, Bhumika was honored with the ‘International Women of Courage Award’ by the United States Department of State. She was also listed in the ‘100 Most Influential People in Global Policy’ in 2019, and feted with a national award.

“Being a trans woman has given me courage and strength,” she says. 

For her the most difficult challenge is changing society's perception on how individuals are expected to behave in accordance with their biological gender roles. But she remains optimistic. 

“I really appreciate how the young people of today are more aware of the power of activism and how they are more accepting of gender minority communities,” says Bhumika. 

This shifting awareness and acceptance gives her hope that there is a better future for LGBTIQA+ community in Nepal.

The Supreme Court has issued a directive to the government to furnish the reason for releasing gangster Yograj Dhakal aka Rigal.

President Ram Chandra Paudel on the recommendation of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government granted amnesty to Rigal, the murderer of Chetan Manandhar.

Responding to a writ petition filed by Bharati Sherpa Manandhar, the widow of Chetan Manandhar, a single bench of Justice Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma asked the government the reason for granting amnesty to Rigal.

The Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Banke District Administration Office among others have been made defendants in the case.

Rigal had murdered Chetan Manandhar (29) by attacking with a khukuri on July 14, 2015.

Later, the Banke District Court in 2018 sentenced gangster Rigal to life imprisonment for killing Manandhar.

Bharati had moved the Supreme Court demanding that Rigal be sent to the prision again by annulling the decision of President Paudel.

She has also started a hunger strike at the Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu from Wednesday demanding justice for her husband.

Speaking at the Parliament meeting on Tuesday, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had also raised the question on the issue.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party had submitted a three-point attention letter to President Paudel pertaining to the amnesty.

An agreement was signed between Kathmandu University’s Department of Language and Mass Communication and AP1 HD television, aiming to bridge the gap between journalism challenges taught in classrooms and those encountered in the newsroom on Wednesday.

Capt Rameshwar Thapa, the Chairperson of Annapurna Media Network, emphasized the mutual benefits of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Balram Uprety, the managing director of the television, shared his belief that this collaboration will provide valuable insights into the practical aspects of journalism for students.

Ekku Maya Pun, the Dean of Kathmandu University, highlighted the significance of this collaboration in linking theoretical teachings with real-world newsroom experiences. “This cooperation will connect the classroom to the newsroom,” Pun added. 

Also, Dr Nirmal Mani Adhikary, the Head of the department, emphasized that this agreement will enhance students’ comprehension of the practical dimensions of journalism. The MoU was signed by Uprety from AP1 and Dr Adhikary from the university, symbolizing their commitment to this collaboration.

Dr Shambhu Prasad Acharya of Bhutuka, Palpa, is a busy man these days. He is campaigning for the election for the position of Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asian Region. He requires six votes to get elected to the coveted post.

“There are many reasons to be optimistic about health in our region. The South East Asia region is home to one-fourth of the global population. We have growing economies, a young population, and technological advancement, including in the pharmaceutical and vaccines sectors. By taking leverage of these, we can provide happiness and dynamism for the health and wellbeing of the population in the region. Good health is a prerequisite for all this and achieving SDGs,” Dr Acharya told ApEx.

Recently, Dr Acharya attended the United Nations General Assembly alongside Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. During their stay in New York, Prime Minister Dahal, Foreign Minister NP Saud, Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal, and other high-ranking officials engaged with the presidents and representatives of various countries, seeking support for Dr. Acharya's candidacy. 

Prime Minister Dahal also met WHO Director General, Dr Tedros during UNGA. Foreign Minister Saud said that needful diplomatic efforts have been made to ensure that Dr Acharya is elected as the regional director of WHO. Dr Acharya is hopeful about his election prospects, given the positive outcome of his high-level discussions with representatives from other countries. “The meetings went very positively. I am excited,” he added. The WHO’s regional office in South-East Asia oversees 11 nations. Of these 11 countries, Myanmar cannot cast its vote due to military rule. WHO has six regional offices. The South East Asia Regional Office in New Delhi is one of the six regions and was opened in 1948. South East Asia covers India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, North Korea and Timor Leste along with Nepal.

Who is Dr Acharya?

Dr Acharya is a seasoned global public health leader. He is the first Nepali to reach a top position at WHO headquarters and holds a PhD in public health, health policy, and financing from the University of North Carolina, USA. Born into a middle-class farmer family, he overcame many challenges to reach his current position. He had to walk for 45 minutes to reach Bhawani Secondary School in Kusum Khola, Palpa. “At that time, there were no primary health care centers in the village,” Dr Acharya said. “I understood during my childhood days what kind of health services were needed at the grassroots level.”

Dr Acharya started his public health career with the Family Planning Association of Nepal, engaging with local communities in rural areas and gaining valuable insights into the health needs of underserved populations. Currently, on leave from WHO for the election, he serves as the Director of the Country Strategy and Support Department at WHO headquarters in Geneva. He has over three decades of experience in public health serving many different areas of public health.

By leading the Country Strategy and Support Department, he is responsible for formulating WHO country cooperation strategies in more than 150 countries. Additionally, he plays a crucial role in coordinating the health situations of different nations to provide comprehensive briefings to the Director General. Dr Acharya excels in leadership skills and diplomatic acumen, demonstrated by his successful leadership of high-level committees for the United Nations and various other organizations on behalf of WHO. His expertise and contributions have earned him appointments to the Board of Governors of the UN System Staff College by two UN Secretary-Generals, Ban Ki-moon and Antonio Guterres, where he served for three years.

Dr Acharya’s extensive experience in public health makes him a strong candidate for the regional director position. According to diplomatic sources, four countries have already pledged their support to Dr Acharya and diplomatic efforts are underway to secure more votes. Before the election, a public debate will be held between the two candidates. Member state representatives will pose questions during the debate, and Heads of Delegation (Ministers of Health) from member states will interview both candidates. The foreign ministry remains hopeful that Dr Acharya’s extensive experience and expertise will secure his victory. International media outlets have repeatedly endorsed him as the suitable candidate, citing Saima Wazed’s limited experience and expertise for the role.

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh of India currently serves as the Regional Director at the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office. Nepal has supported Indian candidates in the past two elections. It remains to be seen how India will respond to Nepal’s unwavering support extended to it in WHO platforms. Since Nepal’s support played a crucial role in India holding the position for two consecutive terms, Nepal is hopeful of receiving India's support in return as per principle of reciprocity and solidarity.

Dr Acharya’s opponent, Saima Wazed, is the daughter of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She holds an MSc in clinical psychology. She has received an honorary PhD from a university in Bangladesh that carries her grandfather’s name. She has been an autism advocate in the past. However, her education and qualifications are limited to a narrow area of the public health sector. Her limited experience in public health, collaboration, and leadership at higher levels make her a weak candidate. Further, most of her degrees and positions in public health are honorary, leading to criticism by leading global media outlets and prestigious public health journals that she received these positions due to her mother’s political influence. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Hasina has actively campaigned for her daughter. She is taking Saima to diplomatic engagements. Recently, she participated with her daughter in the G20 Summit held in New Delhi, India, ASEAN meeting in Indonesia and UNGA in New York.

International media outlets have critiqued Saima'’s nomination, suggesting that her candidacy is primarily due to her status as the daughter of a prime minister, rather than her public health and administrative experience. Salman Keshavji, a professor of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School (Boston), emphasized the importance of advanced training in medicine and public health for the role of WHO regional director. Keshavji argued that Saima’s candidacy raises concerns about nepotism. Likewise, in the article published in The Lancet, Talha Burki raised questions about Saima’s candidacy. Assistant Professor Yasir Arafat of Bangladesh, who shared the article on his social media Twitter, was dismissed from service by Sheikh Hasina’s Government. The election of a candidate embroiled in political interference could raise concerns about the credibility of WHO, a specialized health organization, dedicated to the health and wellbeing of world population based on equality, solidarity and human rights.