Nepal
Gen Z Movement in Nepal: The Coded Message
Nepal’s recent demonstration, daubed as ‘Gen Z Revolution’ took the world by surprise on several fronts. First, it emerged as a spontaneous uprising appealed through the social media, at a time when the media had been banned. Second, it started directly from the climax and reached its denouement in merely two days. It toppled a stubborn regime and threw away an old order. This happened without a leader, without any consorted call, without an announced charter for action, and without any centre to monitor the course of action. Amazing! Truly amazing!
Where message of peace in changing world order
In the face of an intense movement led by ‘Gen Z’, Nepal’s Prime Minister resigned, and soon afterwards a strong anti-government movement erupted in France. ‘Gen Z’ led the movement in Nepal, while the protests in France are being led by the leftists. Yesterday nearly 200,000 protesters took to the streets. Across the country, they declared a ‘block everything’ movement. As a result, there was widespread clashes between protesters and French law enforcement. People lifted rubbish bins from the streets and hurled them at the police. Countless vehicles were set on fire. According to international media reports, to bring the protests under control the French government deployed 80,000 police across the country. Around 500 people have been arrested. More than a hundred were injured.
What message China received from Nepal protests
Nepal, the Himalayan daughter, is now effectively in turmoil. The country has no functioning government. The coalition government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli collapsed after only 48 hours of protest. In July 2024, KP Sharma Oli took oath as Prime Minister for the fourth time. His party, UML (Unified Marxist-Leninist), formed a government in alliance with the Nepali Congress.
Why is Nepal’s political change being compared with Bangladesh
Nepal lies at the foothills of the Himalayas. Its size is similar to Bangladesh, with a population of just over 30 million. Though often referred to as a small country, in reality it cannot be called small. Yet the term is used due to the size of its economy. It is an economy mainly dependent on agriculture, remittances and tourism. However, Nepal’s geopolitical position is both significant and highly sensitive. On its two sides are China and India, the world’s most populous and major military powers. Nepal’s relationship with India has always been bittersweet. With each change of power in Nepal, its ties with India have also shifted. Relations with China, too, have fluctuated.
Why youths in Nepal suddenly erupted into bloody protest
Although Nepal, at the foot of the Himalayas, is well known for its geographical diversity, cultural heritage and rich history, its journey as a state has been far from smooth. Since independence the country has passed through many political experiments—sometimes monarchy, sometimes democratic rule, and at times military influence. After the abolition of the monarchy in 2008 and the transition to a republic, Nepalis hoped for a new future. People expected that after years of turmoil a democratic culture would be established, corruption would decrease, development would be for all, and governance would become transparent. Sadly, those expectations remain unfulfilled.
Discrimination-reducing budget expected from interim govt
In the face of a challenging global economy, creating a budget in a densely populated country like ours is a difficult task. It cannot be confined within the conventional rules of economics. Among the sectors essential for the social, economic, moral, and intellectual development of a nation, education is one of the most important.
In the upcoming budget, education must receive higher allocation
Globally, it is recommended that national budgets allocate at least 20% or 6–8% of GDP to the education sector. However, in Bangladesh, education consistently receives less than what is necessary. Crafting a national budget for a densely populated country like ours, amid global economic uncertainty, is undoubtedly a complex task. It cannot be strictly guided by conventional economic rules. Education remains one of the most crucial sectors for the social, economic, moral, and intellectual development of a nation. It is directly tied to the awakening of citizens’ intellect, thought processes, strength, and sense of purpose. Unfortunately, the state continues to fall short in taking the necessary measures for the development of this vital sector.
Graduation to the list of developing countries: Decisions must be based on reality
To qualify for graduation to the final list of developing countries, a nation must meet three essential criteria. Bangladesh has successfully met all of these conditions. After being under observation for several years, Bangladesh is set to officially graduate to the developing country category in 2026. This will be the most significant economic achievement for the country since its independence. No nation wants to remain a least developed country (LDC) indefinitely. Every country aspires to graduate to the developing nation category as quickly as possible. While LDCs receive certain benefits from developed nations, these privileges are often granted out of a sense of charity rather than respect. Thus, achieving developing country status is a matter of national pride.
Ask yourself once, please
Vandalism in Bangladeshi politics is nothing new. Since the 1990s, we have repeatedly witnessed destruction in various movements, demands, strikes, blockades, and protests. Over the past three decades, we have even seen fires set to moving passenger buses and trains, causing casualties. Yet, we have failed to establish a political culture free from such destruction.
Crisis hits women's football in Bangladesh
For any footballer, qualifying for the World Cup is a dream. The Zambian footballers had dreams too. In the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, the country was playing outstanding football. On April 27, 1993, the Zambian national football team was traveling by special flight to Senegal for an away match. A horrific accident occurred, and all passengers aboard the plane perished, causing the loss of a generation full of football talent. Zambia, which had defeated Italy by 4-0 in the 1988 Olympics, still has not tasted the World Cup experience.