The week that was

This week, political turmoil in Bangladesh dominated discourse across all levels of society. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who held power for 16 years, fled the country following massive student-led protests demanding the end of reservation quotas for the grandchildren of those who fought in the 1971 liberation movement. What began as a student movement quickly escalated into a popular political uprising that played into the hands of opposition parties. In Nepal, the events in Bangladesh sparked debates on two main fronts—what Nepal can learn from this situation, and whether Nepali leaders might face a similar fate if they do not address public grievances.

There are several lessons Nepal can draw from Bangladesh: Strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring a level playing field for all political parties, linking economic growth with poverty alleviation, creating jobs, and safeguarding freedom of speech and expression. Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement responding to the recent developments, saying, “We call for calm and restraint by all and stress the importance of an orderly return to the democratic process. We are confident that the strong and resilient people of Bangladesh will ensure a smooth transition toward peace and stability.”

With these new developments, concerns have arisen over the bilateral relationship between Nepal and Bangladesh, which had been progressing steadily during Hasina’s tenure. The two countries were close to finalizing details on energy trade, but it is uncertain whether this will remain a priority for the new interim government in Bangladesh, which is currently focused on preparing for the next elections. There are also concerns about several bilateral projects that have been in discussion over the past few years. Additionally, Nepal has tightened its border with India to prevent a possible influx of refugees from Bangladesh via India. Despite these challenges, the substantial growth in Nepal-Bangladesh relations over the past decade is likely to remain unaffected.

On domestic issues, the top leaders of Nepal’s three major parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Center)—have reported progress on disputed transitional justice issues. A cross-party task force has submitted its report to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, with a commitment to endorse the bill to amend the Transitional Justice Act. Since 2015, these parties have faced pressure from conflict victims and the international community to amend the Act in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict and international standards. If the three parties can unite, it will be easier to resolve Nepal’s transitional justice process.

In another story, concerns over air safety were heightened following another air crash within two weeks. An Air Dynasty helicopter crashed in Nuwakot, killing five people, including the pilot and four passengers. This follows the July 24 crash of a Saurya Airlines plane at Tribhuvan International Airport, which killed 18 of the 19 people on board. The series of crashes has placed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) under public scrutiny, as it is responsible for ensuring safety measures. The repeated incidents are likely to have negative repercussions on Nepal’s tourism industry. Parliamentarians have already raised questions about the governance within CAAN, and Tourism Minister Badri Pandey has vowed to devote one week to investigating the causes of these repeated crashes.

In politics, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal continued to make headlines this week, declaring that he would not seek the position of prime minister before the 2027 elections, and if the party gains the opportunity, the next leader will assume the role. Just last week, he had announced that the Maoists would contest the next election on their own. However, Maoist party leaders remain skeptical of Dahal’s announcement.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress President Deuba faced criticism this week for doing little to strengthen the  party organization and instead focusing on consolidating his power. Under pressure from party leaders, Deuba did appoint coordinators for the party’s 37 departments this week.

Additionally, two significant documents were submitted to the Nepali Congress party office this week—one by General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa and the other by Vice-Chairman Purna Bahadur Khadka. Thapa’s document, which opposes forming electoral alliances in the next elections, previously irritated the Maoists. However, with the recent changes in the national political landscape, the NC and UML have agreed not to pursue electoral alliances.

A few weeks ago, a senior UML leader revealed that the NC and UML had agreed not to form an electoral alliance. In the NC meeting this week, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak informed party members that the NC and UML plan to pursue constitutional amendments, though he did not specify the issues. He cautioned against undermining this agreement, warning that such mistakes could lead to a political disaster.

In another development, a Cabinet meeting removed Shyam Lal Gyawali from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), which received mixed reactions, and transferred Deepak Thapa to CIB. 

At the provincial level, the formation of a new alliance at the center has led to the formation of new governments in provinces. However, Madhes province has drawn criticism for appointing 20 ministers, as this could strain state resources.

That’s all for this week. Have a great weekend.