Nepal
ICC U-19 Men's World Cup: Bangladesh play Nepal in their first super six match on Wednesday
Former champions Bangladesh will start the super six campaign of the ICC U-19 Men's World Cup' 2024 taking on their South Asian rivals Nepal, the 3rd ranked team of Group D on Wednesday (Jan 31).
The match will kick at 2 pm ( Bangladesh time) at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein in South Africa.
They will play Group D champions Pakistan in the other super six match at Benoni in South Africa on Saturday (February 3).
After the 16- team first group phase ended on Sunday, top 12 teams, divided in two groups, entered the super six stage.
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The Super Six will involve the top three sides from each of the four round-robin groups, with teams progressing from Groups A and D comprising one Group while the teams from B and C in another group.
Each of the teams will carry forward their points and net run rate (NRR) in the super six stage which they earned in the group stage matches.
The six teams, which made super six berth from group A and D are: India, Bangladesh, Ireland (Group A) Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal ( Group D).
South Africa, England, West Indies, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe qualified for the super six stage from Group B and C respectively.
The remaining four teams --USA, Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland – which didn't make the super six berth-– will compete in the play-off matches for the last four places of the tournament.
The teams will play two matches in the Super Six stage against their opponents from the corresponding group which finished in a different position in their group.
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That means India (toppers of Group A) will face off against New Zealand (second position in Group D while Nepal, third position in Group D) will play Bangladesh, the 2nd team of Group A) .
The top two sides from the two Super Six groups will qualify for the semi-final stage.
The two semi-final matches scheduled to be held on February 6 and 8 respectively while the final is set to take place on ( February 11) , with all three knockout games set to take place in Benoni.
Complete fixtures of the Super Six matches
January 30:
India v New Zealand in Bloemfontein
Sri Lanka v West Indies in Kimberley
Pakistan v Ireland in Potchefstroom
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January 31:
Nepal v Bangladesh in Bloemfontein
Australia v England in Kimberley
Zimbabwe v South Africa in Potchefstroom
February 02:
India v Nepal in Bloemfontein
West Indies v Australia in Kimberley
South Africa v Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom
February 03:
Pakistan v Bangladesh in Benoni
New Zealand v Ireland in Bloemfontein
England v Zimbabwe in Potchefstroom
Book on Nepal-Bangladesh friendship launched at Nepal Embassy in Dhaka
The prize distribution and launching of the book titled "From Himalayas to Bay of Bengal: Chronicles of Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship" was held on Saturday at the Nepal Embassy.
The programme jointly organised by the Embassy of Nepal and Bangladesh - Nepal Friendship Society (BNFS) was organised to facilitate the winners of the essay writing 2023.
The book is a compilation of twenty outstanding essays exploring diverse aspects of Nepal-Bangladesh relations, selected from the 'Essay Writing Competition' held in October November 2023.
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The competition was a collaborative effort of the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka and the Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship Society aimed at promoting socio-cultural linkages between Bangladesh and Nepal through academic and intellectual discourses among university students in Bangladesh.
The participating students from Grade XI up to Masters level in Bangladesh were asked to choose the theme of their essays from three topics: 'Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship: Connecting Himalayas and Bay of Bengal', 'Ways to Enhance Economic Cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh', and 'Cultural and People-to-people contacts between Nepal and Bangladesh'.
Vice- chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University Sharfuddin Ahmed delivered his speech as the chief guest while Ambassador of Nepal Ghanshyam Bhandari presided over the event. The President of BNFS Lion Moshiur Ahmed also delivered his speech.Vice- Chancellor Sharfuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh and Nepal can exchange more students from the educational institutions as the two countries have a big similarity in many aspects.Mentioning the successful role of a physician who passed from Bangladesh medical colleges, he said this role will encourage more students of Nepal to take the opportunity of studying in Bangladesh in a homely environment.
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Ambasador Ghanshyam Bhandari said this is not the sole event for the embassy. Last year they had a similar event painting competition where 600 participants from the different schools attended.
"As an embassy, it is our objective to reach out to different levels of Bangladeshi people. Essay Writing Completion is one such effort to engage with the college going students and enrich their understanding about Nepal-Bangladesh relationship", he said.
Aanika Hasan from BRAC University, Dhaka ( first prize), Al Rabby Siemens from Jahangirnagar University (second) and Maxim Gorky Samya from North South University while each winner received a cash prize, a crest, and a certificate of participation.
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Cross-border power trade between Dhaka, Kathmandu unlikely to start before Nov
Despite an understanding among Bangladesh, Nepal and India, state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) still cannot import electricity from the Himalayan nation.
On August 28 this year, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid had said that import of hydropower from Nepal was almost final.
It seems unlikely that the power trade will happen before November. That means, Bangladesh will not get the opportunity to export its surplus electricity to Nepal during peak demand season in winter in the Himalayan nation.
Electricity demand decreases during winter in Bangladesh while it increases in Nepal.
According to official sources, after a long discussion at political and bureaucratic levels among the countries, India finally agreed to allow Bangladesh to initially import 40 MW electricity from Nepal.
The import was supposed to start between August and September 2023, but negotiation on tariff remained incomplete.
Sources said the decision to start the import of 40 MW power from Nepal was finalised in a two-day meeting of the joint steering committee (JSC) and joint working committee (JWC) on Bangladesh-Nepal power and energy sector cooperation on May 14-15 this year at Patuakhali in Bangladesh.
Ahead of the meeting, Nepalese Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud visited Dhaka and held a meeting with Bangladeshi public and private sector officials where he urged them to invest in the hydropower sector in the Himalayan nation, holding about 60,000 MW of clean energy potentials.
Read: Power tariff raised again by 5 percent at retail level, effective from Wednesday
After the meeting at Nepalese Embassy in Dhaka, Saud had told UNB that he was expecting all issues to be resolved during the Nepalese prime minister’s visit to India – to facilitate Nepal’s export of electricity to Bangladesh.
In the follow-up, according to a report of the Kathmandu Post, during the Nepalese prime minister’s India visit (May 30-June 1), India agreed to facilitate Nepal to export 40 MW electricity to Bangladesh through Indian transmission infrastructure.
India also made an announcement to buy 10,000 MW electricity from Nepal over the next 10 years.
According to a recent report of The Kathmandu Post, “The Bangladeshi side has notified Nepal that they are seeking clearance from the political authorities on the agreement reached between the two sides at the bureaucratic level,” said Kul Man Ghising, managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). “We are awaiting a final response from the Bangladeshi side to move on to tariff negotiation,” he added.
NEA officials said that the two sides have concluded discussion on everything except tariff at the bureaucratic level.
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Power Cell Director General Mohammad Hossain said that he is not aware of the latest situation in this regard. He, however, noted that all necessary arrangements have been made for the cross-border power trade from both Bangladesh and Nepal sides.
He said that 40 MW electricity was to be imported through Baharampur-Bheramara transmission lines which have enough capacity to import electricity from Nepal through Indian territory.
Sources said under the planned arrangement, Bangladesh will import electricity from Nepal through an Indian company as a service provider which will first import electricity from Nepal through Indian transmission line and then sell it to Bangladesh.
They said Bangladesh and Nepal prefer a tripartite or regional agreement while India wants bilateral deal in this regard.
Explaining the matter, they said, if Bangladesh wants to import power from Nepal, it has to first sign a deal with India, not directly with Nepal. Then Nepal will sign a separate deal with India. Each deal will be on bilateral basis, and then a trilateral agreement among the three nations will be signed to facilitate the cross-border power trade.
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Currently, Bangladesh is importing electricity from India through a similar arrangement where the Indian company NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is selling power to BPDB.
In case of electricity trade between Dhaka and Kathmandu, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will have to sign agreements with both NVVN and BPDB.
Apart from the 40 MW import plan, Bangladesh wants to import 500 MW of hydroelectricity from Nepal via Indian company GMR.
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Officials said Bangladesh and Nepal are still pursuing India to sign the tripartite deal to facilitate the sub-regional power trade among the three nations.
Shopping in Kathmandu: What to Buy and Where to Buy from
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is a traveller's paradise. This city offers a perfect blend of rich cultural experiences and excellent shopping opportunities. The city is known for its diverse markets and traditional bazaars that showcase the unique essence of Nepali culture. When in Kathmandu, shopping becomes an integral part of the travel experience, and it is worth exploring the local markets to find extraordinary items.
Best Souvenirs to Buy in Kathmandu
On the bustling streets of Kathmandu, travellers can discover a captivating array of souvenirs. Each one encapsulates the rich culture and traditions of Nepal. Pashmina shawls are a must-buy, renowned for their luxurious softness and warmth. Made from the fine wool of Himalayan goats, they embody not only exquisite craftsmanship but also symbolise Nepali elegance.
For adventure enthusiasts and trekkers, Kathmandu stands as a hub for top-quality trekking gear.
Moreover, immersing yourself in the local culture becomes possible through unique items like ayurvedic soaps, Tibetan juniper incense, and handicrafts made from natural fibres and intricately hand-carved woodwork. These items showcase Nepal's artistry and add a touch of its heritage.
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Tea and coffee in Nepal have distinct flavours and are delightful purchases. It is perfect as either a personal indulgence or a thoughtful gift. The markets in Kathmandu offer a stunning variety of jewellery, ranging from traditional silver pieces to modern designs. These jewelleries provide a perfect piece to adorn yourself or a loved one.
Lastly, for culinary enthusiasts, spices from Kathmandu are a must. From fiery chilli to aromatic herbs, these spices add a dash of Nepali flavour to your cooking. Additionally, Gurkha knives (Kukri) and honey sourced from skilled honey hunters in the Nepali mountains are distinctive souvenirs, reflecting Nepal's rich heritage.
Each unique item you purchase will not only serve as a reminder of your time in Nepal but also contribute to supporting local artisans and preserving Nepal's cultural heritage.
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Nepal for promoting economic partnership with Bangladesh as centerpiece of bilateral relations
Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari has underscored the need for promoting economic partnership as the centerpiece of Bangladesh-Nepal relations.
He also shed light on the strong bilateral cooperation existing between Nepal and Bangladesh in areas including trade, transit, energy, tourism, connectivity, and education.
The Nepalese Embassy hosted a reception on Wednesday evening to celebrate the National Day and Constitution Day of Nepal.
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The Ambassador highlighted that the day was a reminder of the moment in which political issues were settled and democratic gains institutionalized with the promulgation of the constitution in 2015.
Bangladeshis, Indians, Nepalis and Pakistanis expected to live 5 years less due to air pollution: AQLI
Particulate air pollution remains the greatest external risk to human health, but most of its impact on global life expectancy is concentrated in just six countries, with Bangladesh being one of the most polluted in the world.
As global pollution edged upward in 2021, so did its burden on human health, according to new data from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI).
If the world were to permanently reduce fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline, the average person would add 2.3 years onto their life expectancy—or a combined 17.8 billion life-years saved worldwide.
This data makes clear that particulate pollution remains the world’s greatest external risk to human health, with the impact on life expectancy comparable to that of smoking, more than 3 times that of alcohol use and unsafe water, and more than 5 times that of transport injuries like car crashes. Yet, the pollution challenge worldwide is vastly unequal.
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In no other location on the planet is the deadly impact of pollution more visible than in South Asia, home to the four most polluted countries in the world and nearly a quarter of the global population.
In Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, the AQLI data reveal that residents are expected to lose about 5 years off their lives on average if the current high levels of pollution persist.
“Three-quarters of air pollution’s impact on global life expectancy occurs in just six countries, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria and Indonesia, where people lose one to more than six years off their lives because of the air they breathe,” said Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and creator of the AQLI along with colleagues at the Energy Policy Institute in University of Chicago (EPIC).
For the last five years, the AQLI’s local information on air quality and its health consequences has generated substantial media and political coverage, but there is an opportunity to complement this annual information with more frequent—for example, daily—and locally generated data.
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Indeed, many polluted countries lack basic air pollution infrastructure. Asia and Africa are the two most poignant examples.
They contribute 92.7 percent of life-years lost due to pollution. Yet, just 6.8 and 3.7 percent of governments in Asia and Africa, respectively, provide their citizens with fully open air quality data.
Furthermore, just 35.6 and 4.9 percent of countries in Asia and Africa, respectively, have air quality standards—the most basic building block for policies.
The collective current investments in global air quality infrastructure also do not match where air pollution is having its greatest toll on human life. While there is a large global fund for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis that annually disburses USD 4 billion towards the issues, there is no equivalent set of coordinated resources for air pollution.
Read: Air pollution 2nd biggest cause of deaths in Bangladesh in 2019, cost about 3.9-4.4% of GDP: World Bank
In fact, the entire continent of Africa receives under USD 300,000 in philanthropic funds towards air pollution (i.e. the current average price of a single-family home in the United States).
Only USD 1.4 million goes to Asia, outside of China and India. Europe, the United States, and Canada, meanwhile, receive USD 34 million, according to the Clean Air Fund.
“Timely, reliable, open air quality data in particular can be the backbone of civil society and government’s clean air efforts—providing the information that people and governments lack and that allows for more informed policy decisions,” said Christa Hasenkopf, the director of AQLI and air quality programs at EPIC.
“Fortunately, we see an immense opportunity to play a role in reversing this by better targeting—and increasing—our funding dollars to collaboratively build the infrastructure that is missing today,” she added.
Read: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
China
Although the challenge of reducing air pollution across the world may seem daunting, China has had remarkable success, reducing pollution by 42.3 percent since 2013, the year before the country began a “war against pollution.”
Due to these improvements, the average Chinese citizen can expect to live 2.2 years longer, provided the reductions are sustained. However, the pollution in China is still six times higher than the WHO guideline, taking 2.5 years off life expectancy.
Southeast Asia
Like South Asia, almost all of Southeast Asia (99.9 percent) is now considered to have unsafe levels of pollution, with pollution increasing in a single year by as much as 25 percent in some regions. Residents living in the most polluted parts of Southeast Asia are expected to lose 2 to 3 years of life expectancy on average.
Central and West Africa
While Asian countries rightly receive the most media coverage about extreme levels of air pollution, the African countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Republic of Congo are amongst the ten most polluted countries in the world. In the most polluted areas of these regions, pollution levels are 12 times the WHO guideline and taking as much as 5.4 years off lives—becoming as much of a health threat as well-known killers in the region like HIV/AIDS and malaria.
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Latin America
While average air quality is at an unsafe but relatively low level across the region, the most polluted areas—located within Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru—experience air quality similar to pollution hotspots like Pune in India and Harbin in China. In these regions, the average resident would gain 3 to 4.4 years of life expectancy if their air quality met the WHO guideline.
United States
In the United States, Americans are exposed to 64.9 percent less particulate pollution than in 1970—prior to the passage of the Clean Air Act—and they’re living 1.4 years longer because of it. Yet, 96 percent of the country still doesn’t meet the WHO’s new guideline of 5 µg/m³. This year, the EPA proposed to lower the national standard from 12 μg/m³ to 9-10 µg/m³, gaining 3.2 million total life years if the upper limit of that proposed standard were met. In 2021, 20 out of the top 30 most polluted counties were in California due to the impact of wildfires.
Europe
In Europe, residents are exposed to about 23.5 percent less pollution than they were in 1998, soon after the Air Quality Framework Directive started, gaining 4.5 months of life expectancy because of it. Yet, 98.4 percent of Europe still doesn’t meet the WHO’s new guideline. In 2022, the EU proposed ratcheting down their standard of 25 µg/m³ to 10 µg/m³ by 2030, gaining 80.3 million total life years if the proposed standard were met. Residents in eastern Europe are living 7.2 months less than their western neighbors due to dirtier air.
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PM Hasina offers Nepal use of Payra port during meeting with Nepalese counterpart in Rome
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has offered to Nepal the use of its newly constructed Payra port during a meeting with her Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
The two visiting ministers met at newly opened Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room in the FAO Headquarters on the sideline of the UN Food Systems Summit. Both leaders are in Rome to attend the summit.
In the meeting, PM Hasina offered Nepal the use of theu Payra port, said Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen while briefing reporters.
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“Bangladesh has already opened the Chalna and Chittagong ports for Nepal. Nepal can use the newly constructed Payra port as well,” Momen quoted her as telling Dahal.
PM Hasina said Bangladesh is developing its Sayedpur airport as a regional hub to extend the connectivity in the region.
The Nepalese premier commended the development of Bangladesh under the successful leadership of PM Hasina, said Momen.
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“You are a leader of our region,” Momen quoted him as saying.
He said there is a huge scope of hydroelectricity generation in Nepal.
In this context, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will take steps to import renewable energy particularly hydroelectricity after the first trilateral power trade from Nepal to Bangladesh through India for 40MW of power starts.
Read: Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room opened at FAO Headquarters
Dahal mentioned that a good number of Nepalese students are pursuing their studies in Bangladesh.
Nepal's newly elected president takes oath of office
Nepal’s newly elected president — the third since the Himalayan nation abolished its centuries-old monarchy in 2008 and became a republic — took the oath of office Monday in Kathmandu.
Ram Chandra Poudel was elected Thursday by members of the Federal Parliament and provincial assemblies. Top officials, diplomats and Parliament members lined up to congratulate the new president at the ceremony where the military band played national songs and gave him a salute.
Outgoing President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, having completed the maximum completed two terms in office, passed the position on immediately after the swearing-in ceremony.
The president is largely a figurehead with little political power. But the election triggered a feud among partners in the governing alliance headed by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who took office in December after a hung parliament left a fragile coalition government.
Dahal backed Poudel, who is also now the supreme commander of the Nepalese army, angering his main coalition partner, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), which backed Subash Chandra Nembang, its own candidate.
The party has since pulled out of the coalition, threatening Dahal’s control.
Dahal has since lost the support of three key political parties that were part of his initial coalition government, and must seek a vote of confidence in parliament later in March to continue in power.
There was no clear explanation of why Dahal decided to back the opposition candidate and endanger his alliance, but struggles for power among the main political parties are common. The country has had eight different governments in the past 10 years.
Bangladesh, Nepal have enormous opportunities to work together for smooth LDC graduation: Momen
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen Sunday said Bangladesh and Nepal will graduate from LDC in 2026; so, both countries have enormous opportunities to work together for a smooth LDC graduation.
He said energy, tourism, education, migration, and connectivity between these countries have many untapped potentials for cooperation.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar, Momen emphasised exploring possibilities of a free trade agreement and increasing two-way trade for shared prosperity.
The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the seminar "Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity" in the capital.
Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, director general of BIISS, delivered the welcome remarks.
Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari, Swarnim Wagle, chair of the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) Kathmandu, and Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, rector of the Foreign Service Academy, Bangladesh, made presentations.
Nepal to elect new president amid political uncertainty
Nepal's parliament members lined up Thursday to elect a new president, the third since the Himalayan nation abolished a centuries-old monarchy and became a republic.
The election of the president has fueled feuds among the main political parties and triggered political uncertainty.
A total of 884 members of the federal parliament and provincial assemblies gathered in the capital, Kathmandu, to vote for the new president. The final results were expected to be announced Thursday night.
Both candidates in the presidential race are prominent career politicians.
Ram Chandra Poudel is a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party and previously served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
His opponent, Subash Chandra Nembang of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), has also previously served as Speaker.
The national election in November last year left a hung parliament, leading to a fragile coalition government taking power.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's decision to support a candidate outside the coalition partners led to the alliance's biggest party pulling its support. As a result, Dahal was forced to seek a confidence vote in parliament later this month.
Analysts say the presidential election and confidence vote could lead to further instability.
“The phase of political instability in Nepal has not ended despite the fact we had a successful national election and a new coalition government in place,” said Dhruba Adhikary, an independent analyst in Kathmandu.
Besides facing the vote of confidence, Dahal also lost the support of three key political parties that were part of the initial coalition government.
His tenure has had a rocky start even before he could address key issues facing the country of 30 million.
Nepal is still struggling to recover from the economic troubles brought by COVID-19, which led to a drop in the number of foreign tourists coming to climb the country's mountain peaks and hike its trails. Reviving tourism is necessary to bolster Nepal's economy.
Dahal also must balance relations between Nepal's two giant neighbors, India and China. Both New Delhi and Beijing compete for influence in the tiny Himalayan nation.
Nepal's new prime minister typically begins his or her tenure with a visit to one of these countries, but Dahal has not yet announced any such plans.
Political turmoil and frequent changes in government are nothing new in Nepal, where eight different governments have ruled in the past 10 years.