Birgunj all-party meeting bans protests, curfew lifted

KATHMANDU: An all-party and cross-community meeting held in Birgunj has decided that no protests will be allowed in the city.

The decision was made during a meeting at the Parsa District Administration Office, taking into account recent demonstrations in the area, according to Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal.

The meeting emphasized maintaining peace and order and resolved that, unlike incidents in other countries or regions, no movements or protests would be conducted in Birgunj.

It was also decided that any group intending to organize demonstrations must first seek prior approval from the Chief District Officer and submit a formal memorandum. Only after this process can protest activities proceed, Dahal explained.

To prevent future activities that could disrupt religious or social harmony and to ensure necessary legal action, a District Harmony Committee has been formed.

The committee will include representatives from active political parties in the district as well as leaders from various religious communities.

From the Hindu community, Ranjit Shah and Ranjan Singh will serve as members, while from the Muslim community, Mahmad Mahbub Ali Sheru and Ali Asgar Madani have been appointed.

Representatives from other religious communities may also be included as needed.

Each political party in the district will have one representative on the committee, along with the president of the Federation of Nepal Journalists and members from civil society.

The meeting also urged media outlets to exercise restraint in reporting and broadcasting, ensuring that news coverage does not harm social harmony.

Local authorities have been tasked with taking legal action against groups or individuals promoting movements that could disrupt religious, cultural, or social harmony.

All participants pledged to reflect on the shortcomings within their own communities and committed to discipline, self-restraint, and maintaining social harmony.

It was further agreed that the meeting’s decisions would be publicly shared on social media and official websites, with statements issued in support of the resolution.

Meanwhile, the Parsa District Administration has lifted the curfew in Birgunj.

A statement issued by the administration confirmed that the curfew, which had been in place since Monday, was lifted from 3:30 PM on Tuesday, following the improvement in peace and order as noted by the all-party meeting.