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Nepal are scheduled to play the 'Group D' final match against Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup on Monday.

The match will begin at 5:15 am (Nepali time) in the Ornos Vale stadium of St Vincent, the West Indies.

As Nepal failed to advance to the quarter finals, the match did not count for the score. It is, however, considered significant for Bangladesh.

South Africa clinched top position with eight points from Group ‘D’, thereby entering the second round of the World Cup. The second group to reach super eight from Group ‘D’ is yet to be finalized.

Bangladesh will secure second position and enter into the Super Eight if they defeat Nepal.

Bangladesh have four points.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase of Bangladesh has approved a proposal to import 40 MW of hydropower from Nepal.  Bangladeshi officials say the two countries are likely to sign the final agreement on energy trade during their Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Nepal. This marks a stepping stone toward unlocking the vast potential for energy cooperation between the two South Asian nations.

While Nepal, as per a study conducted decades ago, has hydropower potential of over 80,000 MW, generation of about 42,000 MW is considered economically viable. However, only a fraction of this potential has been harnessed so far. By tapping into this renewable energy source, Nepal can not only meet its domestic energy demands but also become the largest exporters of clean energy in the region. Bangladesh is grappling with a growing energy demand, thanks to its burgeoning economy and rapid urbanization. Import of hydropower from Nepal presents a win-win solution for both countries. While it opens up new avenues for revenue generation for Nepal, contributing to economic growth and narrowing down its trade, Bangladesh can diversify its energy mix, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the environmental impact of its energy consumption. Bangladesh currently imports 2,600 MW from India, including 1,500 MW from Adani Group’s coal-fired plant in Jharkhand.

While the quantum of import is small, it paves the way for larger and more ambitious energy trade agreements between the two South Asian neighbors. Bangladesh has shown interest to develop a hydropower project of around 500 MW in Nepal. Talks are underway to jointly develop the Sunkoshi-3 hydropower project (683 MW) in Kavre by also involving India. The fifth meeting of the secretary-level Joint Steering Committee on energy cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh held last year decided that the NEA and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) would sign a joint venture agreement within the next six months to develop the project. There, however, has been no further development in this direction.

To fully capitalize on this opportunity, Nepal must address the infrastructural and regulatory challenges that have hindered the development of the hydropower sector. India's support is crucial in facilitating electricity transmission as Nepal and Bangladesh are not connected by land. Collaboration among these three nations could unlock the true potential of cross-border energy trade, thereby fostering economic growth and regional integration.

The third Round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Nepal and Bangladesh was held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal led the Nepali delegation while Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladeshi delegation.   

The two sides discussed regional issues of mutual interest, underscoring the need to revitalize SAARC and strengthen BIMSTEC for the promotion of regional cooperation. They agreed to cooperate at various multilateral forums, especially at the UN, for pursuing common interests, especially in the areas of LDC graduation, poverty alleviation, climate change, and safety and security of migrant workers.

They discussed all major issues of mutual interest and agreed to promote cooperation encompassing all sectors, especially trade and commerce, transit and connectivity, power and energy, tourism, culture and education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release.

Both foreign secretaries emphasized the operationalization of the BBIN MVA framework to contribute to the individual country’s economy not only by expanding trade and connectivity, but also by creating more opportunities to promote people-to-people contacts.

Foreign Secretary Lamsal highlighted the need to tap full potential in economic, cultural and educational sectors through a meaningful collaborative partnership between the two neighbors by involving their private sectors. 

Nepal would like to enhance trade and investment cooperation with Bangladesh, Lamsal said and asked Bangladesh to explore investment opportunities in Nepal, including in the hydropower sector. Furthermore, she requested the Government of Bangladesh to eliminate the Other Duties and Charges (ODCs) levied on Nepali products being exported to Bangladesh. Lamsal also emphasized the exchange of visits at different levels.

Foreign Secretary Momen stressed the need for an early conclusion of a power agreement between Bangladesh, India and Nepal to enable his country to import power from Nepal. He thanked the Government of Nepal for allocating land for the construction of a monastery in Lumbini, expressing hope that it would turn out to be a milestone in bilateral relations.

The third round of Nepal-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations is taking place in Kathmandu on April 17.

Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masud Bin Momen is arriving today on a three-day official visit to Nepal in that connection, reads a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal will lead the Nepali delegation consisting of officials of various ministries of the Government of Nepal at the consultations.

 The two delegations will discuss wide-ranging areas of cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh.

The Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha during his visit.

Foreign Secretary Masud will leave Kathmandu for Dhaka on April 18, the Ministry said.

Bangladeshi State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Nepali Commerce Minister Damodar Bhandari on Saturday discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. 

They also put emphasis on easy communication between local Banglabandha and Nepal’s Kakarbhita by land and expansion of trade. Visiting Kakarbhita on Saturday morning, the state minister noted Kakarbhita land port is 37 km off Banglabandha land port and this territory is part of India.

He said they discussed how Nepal can join Bangladesh using 37km of India's land directly. Bangladesh, India and Nepal will work together to use this route directly. The state minister on Friday visited Phuentsholing border of Bhutan through “Banglabandha Land Port” in Panchagarh district and Phulbari land port in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal of India.

Welcomed by Phuentsholing Governor Karmi Jurmi on the Phuentsholing border, the state minister went to Pasakha land port from the border where he discussed expansion of trade between the countries. Banglabandha is 142 km off of Bhutan’s bordering area Phuentsholing

Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman Md Zillur Rahman Chowdhury, Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Salahuddin Roman Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Munshi Md Moniruzzaman, part-time member of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Land Port Authority Ziauddin Ahmed Bhuiyan and Superintending Engineer of the Land Port Authority M Hasan Ali were present during the meeting with Nepal’s commerce minister.

A massive fire in Bangladesh that raced through a six-storey building home to restaurants where many families with children were dining has killed at least 45 people and injured dozens, the health minister said on Friday.

Fire authorities said a gas leak or a stove could have caused Thursday's blaze in the capital, which spread quickly after breaking out in a biryani restaurant, and was only reined in following two hours of effort by 13 units of firefighters.

Hospitals are treating 22 people with burn wounds, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen told reporters.

"All 22 people ... are in critical condition," Sen said after a visit to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed shock and sorrow over the incident, ordering officials to provide swift treatment for the injured.

One survivor, Mohammad Altaf, recounted his narrow escape from the blaze that killed two colleagues.

"I went to the kitchen, broke a window and jumped to save myself," he told reporters, adding that a cashier and server who urged people to leave during the first moments had died later.

Firefighters used cranes to rescue people from the charred building, said fire officials, who were still working to clear debris and stamp out any remaining embers.

Relatives gathered at the hospital early on Friday to receive the bodies of the dead, with some mourning outside the emergency department.

Doctors said most of the dead were killed by suffocation with others dying as they jumped off the building, which also houses some clothing and mobile telephone shops.

The fire could have originated from a gas leak or stove, said Brigadier General Main Uddin, a top fire service official.

"It was a dangerous building with gas cylinders on every floor, even on the stairs," he told Reuters, adding that it had a single staircase, lacking an emergency exit and other safety measures.

The government has set up a five-member panel to investigate the incident.

The main opposition party blamed the government for the fire.

"Accidents and disasters keep happening as there is no rule of law," Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said in a statement.

"The government is not accountable to the people and that's why anarchy prevails, many accidents occur and people lose their lives."

Intense scrutiny of Bangladesh and the major global clothing retailers that manufacture there has helped prevent disasters in the garment sector since a fire in 2012 and a building collapse in 2013 together killed more than 1,200 workers.

But in other industries, mainly catering to the booming domestic economy and lacking equal emphasis on safety, hundreds of people have died in fires.

Fires are common in densely populated Dhaka, where many new buildings have sprung up, many lacking adequate safety measures. Fires and explosions have resulted from faulty gas cylinders, air conditioners and poor electrical wiring.

In July 2021, many children were among the 54 people killed at a food processing factory outside Dhaka, while at least 70 people were killed in a February 2019 fire that engulfed a centuries-old precinct.

Soon after signing a long-term power-trade deal with India, Nepal is preparing to export 40 MW electricity to Bangladesh from July this year, according to multiple sources.

Officials from Nepal, Bangladesh and India are working to finalize the modality of power export as soon as possible. During Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s New Delhi visit in May last year, India had agreed to allow Nepal to export 40 MW power to Bangladesh through its grid.

From July, Nepal will start exporting 40 MW to Bangladesh, which will pave the way for more cooperation in the coming days, said a diplomatic source. Now, three countries are working to finalize the tariff and other details to operationalize the agreement.

Nepal and Bangladesh are also working to construct a dedicated transmission line for the export of up to 5000 MW to Bangladesh. But there has been no tripartite agreement regarding the construction of a dedicated transmission line that passes through the Indian territory.  Private investors from Bangladesh are keen to invest in Nepal’s hydropower sector.

The signing of a long-term power trade agreement between Nepal and India has boosted the morale of both Indian and Bangladeshi investors, said the source. With the export of electricity to Bangladesh, the dreams of regional power trade will start materializing, said the government official. Recently, Nepal signed an agreement with India for the export of 10,000 MW over the next 10 years. 

Güner Ureya is the first Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Bangladesh. He is also mandated to look after Nepal, though Kosovo and Nepal are yet to establish a formal diplomatic relationship. Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx spoke with him during his recent Nepal visit. 

What is the status of Kosovo’s relation with South Asian countries?

As the first Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, I followed the developments and general trends in other South Asian countries as well. I would like to emphasize that we are satisfied with our cordial relations with all South Asian countries that have so far recognized Kosovo. I’m following the remaining part of the region, including Nepal. I can say that we have the potential to develop official relations with Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. General developments in South Asian countries in recent years have drawn our attention. 

The cultural diversity and richness, but also the overall potential of South Asian countries with a population of around 1.9bn, are worth exploring more. Unfortunately, we as Kosovo do not have G2G and diplomatic relations with four South Asian nations, I mean with Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Especially in the Indian position, I saw the traces of the versions fabricated by our neighbor Serbia. We need to better explain to Indians about Serbia’s hegemonic policies and atrocities in former Yugoslavia, especially in Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so they can understand us better. Another non-recognizer of Kosovo in South Asia is Nepal. I witnessed that Nepalis are very friendly to us, maybe because of similarities we have. On the other hand, our relationship with Sri Lanka is very similar to that of Nepal. I also tried to follow Colombo’s official position on us. Sri Lanka is open to communication, but unfortunately has not yet officially recognized Kosovo. Beside Kathmandu, New Delhi and Colombo, we always anticipate positive news from Thimphu as well.

How do you see the current state of Nepal-Kosovo relationship?

Nepal has yet to officially recognize the independence of the Republic of Kosovo, and the two nations do not have diplomatic ties. This suggests that the foundation for establishing formal diplomatic ties between the two nations has not yet been laid. Additionally, it means that the conditions remain limited for institutional cooperation and for having different win-win situations. It’s essential to note that, with a positive mindset from both sides, the landscape can change, and Kosovo-Nepal relations can evolve over time. So it is possible but it is also expected that Nepal will recognize Kosovo in the near future. So far, people-to-people contacts and cooperation between the civil societies of the two countries are more successful than our corporate initiatives. Regrettably, the current level of trade cooperation between the two countries is quite limited, but if we establish formal bilateral relations, it would naturally bring new prospects and opportunities for negotiating and implementing bilateral agreements across various sectors and collaborating on international platforms. 

The existence of these official relations would also shape public perceptions, fostering increased interest and closeness between the people, companies, artists, sports clubs, and other social entities, which is why we attach great importance to gaining recognition from Nepal and establishing diplomatic ties with your country. 

What are the areas of cooperation between Nepal and Kosovo?

To clarify, as an independent country, the Republic of Kosovo is actively seeking to enhance cooperation with reliable partners. There are significant opportunities for collaboration between Kosovo and Nepal. For instance, consider the case of Bangladesh, a South Asian nation, which recognized Kosovo a few years ago, and we have since developed a close and friendly relationship with them. Similarly, we aim to establish a similar bond with Nepal. The potential for cooperation extends to various sectors, including education, economy, and particularly agriculture. As a relatively new country, we have achieved notable success in sports, and we are keen to share our experiences with Nepal in this regard. 

To that end, we are persistently working to tell our narratives to Nepal. We want to convey that Kosovars share a deep love for peace, that we have a vibrant population with the youngest median age in Europe, and that there is ample room for us to develop both bilateral relations and collaborate on international platforms. Up to this point, individuals from civil society have played a crucial role in promoting our relationship. On the flip side, Kosovar companies have begun to recruit labor from South Asian countries, including Nepal, and they have expressed satisfaction with the overall performance and humanitarian behavior of Nepali employees.

Nepal is delaying to recognize Kosovo, what could be the reasons?

It's never too late. I hope recognition comes soon. Throughout my tenure of four years in South Asia, I have also tried to follow Kathmandu’s political position on us. I witnessed that Nepalese are very friendly to us. Kathmandu is open for communication. Unfortunately, it has yet to extend official recognition to the Republic of Kosovo's independence. As I’ve become more acquainted with Nepal over time, I’ve come to appreciate it as the homeland of friendly, proud, and respectful people. Nepalese individuals, in general, tend to approach decisions with care and caution but always exude friendliness, a positive aura, and a warm smile. 

Similar to Nepal, some other countries initially hesitated to recognize independence of Kosovo, but with time, they realized that recognizing the Republic of Kosovo was the right course of action. This recognition holds significance for peace and stability in the Balkan Peninsula, or, in other words, in Southeast Europe. The independence of the Republic of Kosovo rectified historical injustices, put an end to Serbian occupation, and brought peace and freedom to its people. We are aware that Serbia, a country with which we had fought for our freedom and still have disputes, employs various tactics and unfounded arguments to weaken Kosovo's international position. 

To put it briefly, Nepal is an independent, sovereign, free and egalitarian country, so it determines its foreign policy preferences. We all know that countries have their own set of priorities. Our hope is that Nepal officially recognizes Kosovo as soon as possible.

What are the similarities and differences between Nepal and Kosovo?

Nepal and Kosovo, two geographically distant countries, share notable similarities and few differences. We share several common experiences and characteristics. Both are landlocked countries, have multi-ethnic populations, mountainous terrain, and youthful demographics. Moreover, both Kosovo and Nepal boast breathtaking landscapes and dynamic societies. My perceptions of Nepal before were shaped by three elements: firstly, the civil war in the 90s; then, the Himalayas, especially Mount Everest; and also Gurkhas from Nepal, who served as peacekeepers after the war in Kosovo. It is not difficult for us to empathize with Nepal, because we have common elements that remind us of our suffering, but also of our qualities. 

Both countries and peoples have gone through difficult times. We have always tried to ease our pain by talking to the mountains and singing to the trees, rocks, and rivers. Although not as great as the Himalayas, our Sharr Mountains are nonetheless extremely lovely. As differences Nepal and Kosovo have their own historical narratives and political dynamics. These differences are unique and it reflects our distinct identities, cultures, and geopolitical contexts. Kosovo reflects a blend of Western and Eastern European influences, while Nepal boasts a rich tapestry of languages and customs of Eastern South Asia. 

Despite our differences, Nepal and Kosovo can develop close relations through various means, mainly diplomatic engagement, cultural exchange, economic cooperation, and people-to-people connections. Ultimately, trust, goodwill, and open communication are key to fostering close ties and cooperation between Nepal and Kosovo.

Could you tell us a little about the historical process so that our readers can understand it better?

To understand how Kosovo achieved independence, it is essential to comprehend its history. In 1989, Belgrade abolished Kosovo’s autonomy and two years later, as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) disintegrated, Kosovo lost its status as a federal entity in the ex-country with rights similar to those of the six republics. During the 1990s Kosovo and its institutions were under the Serbian occupation. Serbian authorities consistently discriminated against the majority of Kosovar population, excluding them from governance and public life, along with exclusion from the health and educational system.

In reaction, the Kosovo leadership under Ibrahim Rugova pursued a policy of peaceful resistance for several years, before the lack of progress led to the formation of the Kosovo Liberation Army and armed struggle. This, in turn, encouraged the Serbians to exercise more pressure against the Kosovars. Following a failed attempt to negotiate a settlement at Rambouillet, France, in March 1999, NATO decided to stop humanitarian crises in Kosovo and intervened in Serbian targets. During the Serbian atrocities more than half of the Kosovars became refugees or internally displaced. After the war, the problems were tried to be solved through negotiations. But after all the attempts, the UN special envoy, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, gave the green light for the status of Kosovo, as a ‘sui generis’ case. 

Although Serbia, Russia and some other countries insist on denying the truth, Kosovo's independence has become an irreversible fact. It should be noted that, more than half of member countries of the UN have recognized the independence of the Republic of Kosovo. The majority of these countries are geographically close to Kosovo and they realized that the case is unique and cannot be used as a precedent for other cases. 

In addition, they considered the peace and stability of the region as well as their own peace and stability. On the other side, the International Court of Justice ruled that the declaration of independence of Kosovo was not in violation of international