Defending champions Bangladesh Women’s Football team will fly for Nepal on Tuesday to compete in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship 2024 to be held in Kathmandu from October 17 to 30 with a hope to retain the regional soccer crown. Ahead of the ensuing SAFF Championship, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Monday announced a 23-member Bangladesh women’s football team that included nine team officials. Bangladesh, which was placed in three-team Group A of the seven -nation meet India and Pakistan while four-team Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and the hosts Nepal. Holders Bangladesh, the champions of 2022, will start their campaign taking on Pakistan on October 20 at 5:45 pm at the Dashrath Rangasala (Stadium) in Kathmandu while they face five times champions India on October 23 at the same time and same venue. BFF member and Chairperson of the Committee for Women’s Football Mahfuza Akter Kiron, team manager Mahmuda Akter, Head Coach Pater James Butler, captain Sabina Khatun and vice-captain Maria Manda disclosed their expectation and preparations at a press conference at the BFF house on Monday. Captain Sabina Khatun said, “We will miss the services of our two key players Anthi Khatun and Sirat Jahan Swopna, we will try our best to fill the gap with new players .Moreover, we failed to play mentionable preparation matches this time, however, our target in to give best in the meet”. But, Vice-captain Maria sought blessing from the countrymen to achieve the goal. Bangladesh women’s team : Rupna Chakma, Masura Parvin, Afeida Khandakar, Sheuli Azim. Shamsunnahar Sr, Nilufa Yasmin Nila, Airin Khatun, Kohati Kisku, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda (vice captain), Sapna Rani, Sumaya Matsushima, Sanjida Akhter, Munki Akhter, Ritu Porna Chakma, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Sabina Khatun (captain), Tohura Khatun, Shamsun nahar jr, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Mst Yearzan, Mile Akter and Mst Sagorika.

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. Read: Adani Power team likely to visit Bangladesh to discuss coal price, power tariff 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. Read more: Hike in retail power tariff is less than in developed countries: Info Minister 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. Also read: Retail power tariff hiked 5% to Tk0.19 per unit for lifeline consumers, Tk0.36 on average for others 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.

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. Read more: 8 Best Winter Travel destinations in Bangladesh 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. Read more: Best Hotels and Resorts in Kuakata

Bangladesh and Nepal have underlined the necessity of intensifying the bilateral relations including exchange of high level visits as the two countries are celebrating 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen had a bilateral meeting with his Nepalese counterpart Dr. Narayan Khadka on the sidelines of the 18th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting in Sri Lanka's capital on Tuesday and discussed the areas of cooperation. The two foreign ministers committed to work together for common modalities to adapt to the graduation from LDC, Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams told UNB after the meeting. Read: 3rd Bangladesh, South Korea FOC to be held in Dhaka Cooperation in the power and energy sector, enhancement of trade and investment, connectivity, people to people contacts and  cooperation in the area of climate change were also discussed with due importance. Momen appreciated the unwavering support received from the people and political leadership of Nepal during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. The Nepalese foreign minister appreciated the Bangladesh government for hosting a large number of Nepalese students for various undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Foreign minister Momen sought Nepal's support for early repatriation of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals to their home country. Read: Dhaka calls for joint efforts to build smarter BIMSTEC Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char. The two foreign ministers pledged to cooperate with each other in various regional and multilateral forums. The foreign minister is currently in Colombo to attend the BIMSTEC Summit scheduled for Wednesday in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be joining virtually from Dhaka. Minister Momen led the Bangladesh delegation at the 18th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting held on Tuesday. 

A coronavirus outbreak on Mount Everest has infected at least 100 climbers and support staff, an expert mountaineering guide said, giving the first comprehensive estimate amid official Nepalese denials that the disease has spread to the world’s highest peak. Lukas Furtenbach of Austria, who last week became the only prominent outfitter to halt his Everest expedition due to virus fears, said Saturday one of his foreign guides and six Nepali Sherpa guides have tested positive. “I think with all the confirmed cases we know now — confirmed from (rescue) pilots, from insurance, from doctors, from expedition leaders — I have the positive tests so we can prove this,” Furtenbach told The Associated Press in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. “We have at least 100 people minimum positive for COVID in base camp, and then the numbers might be something like 150 or 200,” he said. Read: Nepal president dissolves Parliament; elections in November He said it was obvious there were many cases at the Everest base camp because he could visibly see people were sick, and could hear people coughing in their tents. A total of 408 foreign climbers were issued permits to climb Everest this season, aided by several hundred Sherpas and support staff who’ve been stationed at base camp since April. Nepalese mountaineering officials have denied there are any active cases this season among climbers and support staff at all base camps for the country’s Himalayan mountains. Mountaineering was closed last year due to the pandemic. Nepalese officials could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday. Other climbing teams have not announced any COVID-19 infections among their members or staff. Several climbers have reported testing positive after they were brought down from the Everest base camp. Furtenbach said most teams on the mountain were not carrying virus testing kits, and that before his team pulled out, they had helped conduct tests and had confirmed two cases. Read:China cancels Everest climbs over fears of virus from Nepal Most teams are still at base camp, hoping for clear weather next week so they can make a final push to the summit before the climbing season closes at the end of the month, Furtenbach said. In late April, a Norwegian climber became the first to test positive at the Everest base camp. He was flown by helicopter to Kathmandu, where he was treated and later returned home. Nepal is experiencing a virus surge, with record numbers of new infections and deaths. China last week canceled climbing from its side of Mount Everest due to fears the virus could be spread from the Nepalese side. Nepal reported 8,607 new infections and 177 deaths on Friday, bringing the nation’s totals since the pandemic began to more than 497,000 infections and 6,024 deaths.

Bangladesh and Nepal on Monday signed four Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to enhance cooperation between the two countries in tourism, sanitation, cultural exchange and railways link.

Bangladesh has agreed to allow Nepal to use its Saidpur Airport as part of strengthening trade and connectivity between the two countries.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday put emphasis on strengthening connectivity with all neighbours for the sake of development of this region.

Eight Indian tourists, including four children, were declared dead Tuesday after being found unconscious in their room at a mountain resort in Nepal, officials said.

A 24-member Bangladesh (Under-23) Football Team reached Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon to take part in the 13th South Asian (SA) Games eyeing a final berth.