Prospering Together

Along with a struggle to find political stability, Nepal and Bangladesh share multiple similarities. They are the members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), are graduating to 'developing nation' status from the Least Developed Country by the end of this year, and are pursuing strategies for industrial and export growth. 

However, differences are stark – Bangladesh is a rapidly industrialising coastal country with maritime access, a large market with 170 million people with average per capita income (PCI) of US$ 2,820, against landlocked Nepal's 30 million people with average PCI of US$ 1,490. Nepal was the seventh country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent country when it was created in 1971. They signed the Transit Agreement and Trade and Payments Agreement and offered favour to each other in customs duties and other charges on export and import of goods between them. 

Recently, after years of hiatus, Nepal started supplying electricity to Bangladesh in 2024. Bangladesh has shown interest in investing up to Rs. US$ 1 billion in the first phase of Nepal's hydropower projects, and importing electricity in a large amount. Currently, Nepal is exporting 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh. Despite having good trade relations, Nepal is witnessing a huge trade deficit with Bangladesh. In the last Fiscal Year 2024/25, Nepal imported merchandise worth Rs. 5.18 billion from Bangladesh and exported goods worth only Rs. 666.1 million, creating a trade deficit of Rs. 4.51 billion. 

Nepal's major export goods include lentils, oil-cake, cane molasses, bran, food, and medicinal plants, while it imports soyabean, oil-cake, raw jute, parts of engines, medicines, and potatoes. Experts in Nepal say that the tariff and para-tariff imposed by Bangladesh on Nepali products have made the latter less competitive in the markets there. Unfortunately, the two developing nations of the same region haven't resolved the complexities in bilateral trade exchanges. 

A study conducted by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment and published last year identified that minerals and metals, textiles, chemicals, clothing, agricultural products, oilseeds and fats, wood and paper, and leather and footwear have high potential for export to Bangladesh. However, Nepal lacks a country-wide policy to promote exports and has a poor economic diplomacy exercise. Various strategies devised for trade integration couldn't alter the existing unfavourable environment in foreign trade.   

Amidst such a situation, the commerce secretary-level meeting between the two countries held last week in Dhaka aptly underscored the need for deepening bilateral economic partnership, including joint-venture investment and trade. Nepali delegation led by Commerce Secretary Dr. Ram Prasad Ghimire stressed on enhancing bilateral trade by reducing trade-related barriers, including the tariff and non-tariff ones. 

In response, Bangladesh expressed its readiness to collaborate in trade and investment, connectivity, and tourism. Bangladesh's Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman reaffirmed commitment to simplifying customs procedures and enhancing trade facilitation. Nepal also maintained that there is a need for close cooperation to promote collective interests at the regional and international forums, as both countries are graduating to 'developing country' status. 

Likewise, the two countries have agreed to expedite negotiations on the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), rules of origin, and product list. Nepal should take this opportunity to simplify the entry process of Nepali products into the Bangladeshi market. Meanwhile, efforts should be boosted to attract investment in hydroelectricity and industry and attract more Bangladeshi tourists to Nepal. 

Nepal should prepare a comprehensive list of products that can have competitive and comparative advantages, and focus on their production and development. It is high time that the two neighbours collaborate at the regional and international level to promote each other's interests to achieve shared prosperity. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 January 2026. 

Experts seek platform governance to combat misinformation

Kathmandu, Jan. 24

Experts and media stakeholders stressed on finding ways to find solutions for platform governance to combat misinformation.

Speaking at the 'Kathmandu Conference on Combating Misinformation' jointly organised by the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (CDJMC) and Centre for Media Research (CMR) Nepal that kicked off in Kathmandu on Saturday, they said the easy access to social media and an absence of any restrictive measures have amplified the risks.

They also recommended that the government, media and civil society organisations should work to spread media and social media literacy to check misinformation. It is necessary to save people from the impact of propaganda and deep fakes.

Dr. Padma Rani, Professor at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India, said false news spreads more quickly than the truth. "Easy and low-cost access to media and simplicity in sharing it across multiple platforms have amplified the spread of misinformation, raising serious concerns about its repercussions," she said.

Research has shown that over 70 per cent of adults use the internet to search for health-related information. Dr. Rani also concluded that more than one-fifth of the YouTube videos carry misinformation, impacting millions of people across the globe.

She also informed that four types of misinformation - fictitious data, false information, false health recommendations and communal in nature targeting the minority community – were observed in India as well as in neighbouring countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Kundan Aryal, Head of CDJMC, said that the spread of misinformation and misuse of AI in creating misinformation and deep fakes should be checked with greater participation of media, education institutions and implementation of national and international codes formulated to combat misinformation.

Transparency, accessibility, regulation and multi-stakeholder participation can be a step towards finding a solution to checking misinformation, he said.

Dr. Bamdev Adhikari, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Tribhuvan University (TU), said that media manipulation of facts is not a recent phenomenon. "It has long been survived in the form of propaganda while the internet-based technology, especially social media, has amplified the phenomenon," he said, mentioning the misuse of media and agenda-setting during the elections in the United States and elsewhere.

The two-day conference is deliberating on various dimensions in misinformation cycle and ways to combat it. It features sessions on the role of media education and media in combating misinformation, interventions to combat misinformation, platform governance solutions for Nepal, and information integrity on climate change.

It also includes interactive exhibitions, student research presentations, as well as applied and theoretical research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, newsroom practice, fact-checking, media literacy and policy interventions applied by countries around the region.

The biennial conference on communication, journalism and media aims to promote South Asian and Nepali scholars' works in communication, journalism and media by providing an academic platform. This is the third edition in the series, earlier two were held in 2018 and 2024. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 January 2026. 

Honor launches X9d in Nepali market

Kathmandu, Jan. 24

Honor has launched its new smartphone, Honor X9d, in the Nepali market, positioning the device as a durable and performance-oriented option for modern users.

According to the company, the Honor X9d has been designed to balance innovation, strength and reliability, with features intended to meet the evolving expectations of consumers in its segment. The company said the device aims to raise benchmarks in terms of durability, battery capacity and camera performance.

The Honor X9d comes with a reported drop resistance of up to 2.5 metres and carries an industry-leading IP69K rating, indicating a high level of protection against dust and water.

The device is equipped with an 8,300mAh battery, which the company says is designed to support long periods of use, and a 108-megapixel high-resolution camera intended to capture detailed images and videos.

In Nepal, the smartphone will be available in two variants. The model with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage has been priced at Rs. 54,999, while the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant will retail at Rs. 59,999.

To coincide with the launch, Honor has introduced a pre-booking offer for Nepali customers. The pre-booking period will run from January 23-28, during which early buyers will be eligible for a range of promotional benefits.

As part of the promotional campaign, Honor has also announced that one pre-booking customer will be selected to win a new Deepal S05 car, valued at Rs. 5.89 million.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 January 2026. 

Veteran politician Pathak launches autobiography

Kathmandu, Jan. 24

The autobiography of veteran politician and social worker from Jhapa, Krishna Prasad Pathak, 88, titled Aafailai Farkara Herda, has been officially launched in Kathmandu on Saturday.

The book offers a personal account of Pathak’s life journey, detailing his struggles, political experiences, social observations, and personal memories.

Covering over eight decades of Nepali history, from rural life to national politics, the book provides an in-depth perspective on contemporary Nepali society, politics, and leadership.

In his autobiography, Pathak reflects on his early childhood, the challenges he faced in obtaining education, his early marriage and family responsibilities, as well as his career in government service. He also recounts his efforts to build a life in Kathmandu, his economic progress, and his observations of social change.

The book delves into his experiences with Nepali Congress organisational politics, land reform issues, the plight of landless settlers, political imprisonment, and struggles with serious health challenges.

The book launch event was attended by various prominent figures, including politicians, intellectuals, writers, and journalists. Speakers included Krishna Dharabasi, former Supreme Court judge Mohan Sitoula, former ambassador Krishna Oli, journalist Prateek Pradhan, border affairs expert Punya Oli, writer Khagendra Sangraula, and former Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Academy, Ganga Upreti.

The book is expected to serve as an important document in the field of Nepali political autobiographies and is seen as a source of inspiration for future generations regarding life, struggle, and public service, the speakers said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 January 2026. 

SSF meets Rs. 100 billion milestone

Kathmandu, Jan. 23

The Social Security Fund (SSF) has met the Rs. 100 billion milestone in the past seven years since it adopted the contribution-based social security system in 2018.

By Friday, the SSF has collected Rs. 100.11 billion from more than 2.757 million contributors – employees from 22,807 employers, Nepali migrant workers, self-employed and workers from informal sector.

The accumulated fund comprises Rs. 91.29 billion in contributions and Rs. 8.82 return from the collected amount.

However, migrant workers are the largest contributors. According to the statistics published by the SSF, more than 2.086 million contributors are from foreign employment. Since March 2023, the government has made the enrolment of migrant workers to the Fund mandatory. They have to register with the SSF as they obtain the labour approval to work abroad, said Kabiraj Adhikari, Executive Director of the Fund.

Likewise, 669,620 contributors are employed by 22,807 institutions, 757 are self-employed, and 813 are employed in the informal sector.

Meanwhile, the SSF paid out Rs. 18.43 billion against 972,846 claims. In the last seven years, the Fund has received 263,813 claims under four different schemes. The highest amount (Rs. 15.16 billion) is paid against the claims under the old-age protection scheme. The Fund received 135,727 claims under this category.

It received 130,001 claims for medical treatment, health and maternity scheme and paid Rs. 2.71 billion against these applications.

Likewise, 7,042 claims were submitted under the accident and disability protection scheme, and 809 claims under the dependent family protection scheme. The payments for these claims stand at Rs. 242 million and Rs. 307 million, respectively.

The collected and paid amount under these schemes are almost equal which pose a risk in the future. “We are aware of this risk. So, in the recent years, the amount to be paid against the claims has not been increased despite the increment in the salary or the contribution to the SSF,” said Adhikari.

The SSF has collected Rs. 80.39 billion under the old age pension scheme, Rs. 2.85 billion under the medical treatment, health and maternity scheme, and Rs. 6.26 billion under the accident and disability protection and dependent family schemes.

Nepali migrant workers have contributed Rs. 4.47 billion to the Fund.

According to Adhikari, with the increased fund-size amidst the economic slowdown, fund management has become critical. It also means the funds will offer less return than the yester years.

To manage these challenges, the SSF has reduced the period to obtain special loans and other financial support for its contributors.

 

Contributions and payments at SSF

Scheme	Contribution received (Rs.)	Payment against claims (Rs.)
Medical Treatment, Health and Maternity	2.85 billion	2.71 billion
Accident and Disability Protection	6.26 billion	242 million
Dependent Family Protection		307 million
Old Age Protection	80.39 billion	15.16 billion

 

Although the SSF was established in 2011, it was reorganised with the implementation of the Contribution-based Social Security Act, 2018 as an agency under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS).

As per the law, the scheme is mandatory for all employers and employees, and they require to contribute 31 per cent of their basic salary – 20 per cent by the employer and 11 per cent from the employee. This contribution is distributed among the four different schemes. The schemes managed by the Fund are said to protect workers in emergencies such as sickness, accident, unemployment, disability, and post-retirement. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 January 2026. 

IBN, NICCI eye Indian FDI

 

Kathmandu, Jan. 23

Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) and the Investment Board, Nepal (IBN) have formed a Joint Working Group (JWG) with an aim of strengthening investment flows from India into Nepal’s growing economy.

The group includes Joint Secretary Hem Raj Tamang, PPP Project Consultant Mukta Pandey, and Under Secretary Manoj Regmi from the IBN, and Vice-President Kunal Kayal, Member Abhiman Bararia, and Director Marshal Rathor from NICCI. “Their combined experience will guide planning and implementation of strategic initiatives designed to attract and facilitate investment,” said Sunil KC, President of NICCI.

India remains Nepal’s largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for over 32 per cent of total FDI stock in the country, according to the latest data from Nepal Rastra Bank’s Survey Report on Foreign Direct Investment 2023-24.

“This underscores the deep and enduring investment ties between Nepal and India and highlights the significant role Indian investors play in Nepal’s economic development,” said KC and added, “The newly formed JWG will serve as a collaborative platform to encourage increased Indian participation across key sectors of Nepal’s economy."

According to NICCI, the meeting of the two organisations held on May 21 last year provided a forum for substantive dialogue on future collaboration opportunities.

Participants explored a range of activities, including investment seminars, targeted meetings, and investor roadshows across India that will showcase Nepal’s investment potential and promote bilateral economic cooperation.

“The formation of this JWG marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to deepen economic engagement between Nepal and India,” KC said, adding that the partnership will help identify concrete avenues for investment and build stronger institutional linkages with Indian business communities.

NICCI and IBN initiative includes the investment roadshow in different cities of India in the future, and sector-wise private sector-to- private sector joint project planning.

The JWC will also prioritise initiatives that support infrastructure development, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and other priority sectors, where Nepal offers attractive returns and strategic opportunities for Indian investors.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 January 2026. 

Wistron Technology to hire 300 Nepali workers under zero-cost model

Kathmandu, Jan. 21

Wistron Technology (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. has continued to implement a zero-cost and ethical recruitment model for Nepali workers, a practice that is increasingly being cited as a benchmark in Nepal’s foreign employment sector.

It has initiatied the recruitment process for an additional 300 Nepali workers – 200 women and 100 men - this year, through authorised agencies, Aakarshan International Pvt. Ltd. and Lal Dhanush International Services Pvt. Ltd.

They informed in a press meet organised in Kathmandu on Wednesday that the initiative was publicly announced in Nepal in 2022, when Wistron Technology Malaysia declared its intention to recruit Nepali workers without imposing financial burdens on them.

All the costs related to recruitment, training, travel and logistics are being borne by the recruiting company since then.

During the same year, the company signed memoranda of understanding with authorised Nepali recruitment agencies, aiming to promote transparency and accountability in the recruitment process.

In May 2022, Wistron Technology recruited 335 Nepali workers through two recruitment agencies—200 through Aakarshan and 135 through Lal Dhanush—under the zero-cost model.

The initiative is being carried out within the framework of the labour agreement signed between the Governments of Nepal and Malaysia in October 2018. The agreement allows Nepali workers to be employed in Malaysia’s manufacturing, construction, services, agriculture and other sectors through legal and regulated channels.

Kenny Liang, General Manager of Wistron, said that his company is for promoting zero-cost and ethical recruitment practices aligned with global labour standards in its future international hiring as well.

The agreement between Wistron and Nepali agencies also aims to ensure the protection of workers’ rights, transparent recruitment procedures and safe working conditions, said Bishnu KC, Managing Director of the company.

Malaysia has long relied on labour from South Asian countries to meet domestic workforce demand. Under the bilateral arrangement, Nepali workers have been travelling to Malaysia in an organised manner, with provisions designed to minimise recruitment-related costs and risks.

KC said that the zero-cost recruitment approach has enabled workers to avoid taking loans to finance migration and has encouraged the use of formal channels for remittance transfers. This contributes to improved living standards for workers and supports transparency and sustainability in Nepal’s foreign employment sector.

Recruitment agencies involved in the process have stated their intention to continue cooperating with Wistron Technology Malaysia on a long-term basis.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 January 2026.