Saarc Nations

Kathmandu, Oct 2025 : Nepal and India have taken a major step forward in their growing energy partnership, with two state-owned power companies signing agreements on Wednesday to jointly construct two high-capacity cross-border electricity transmission lines that will enhance regional energy trade and grid stability. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) signed a Joint Venture (JV) and Shareholders’ Agreement in New Delhi to develop 400 kV transmission corridors linking Inaruwa (Nepal)–Purnia (India)…

Official sources in Bangladesh and China confirmed that Bangladesh is advancing plans to purchase 20 J-10CE multirole fighter aircraft from China, valued at about $2.20 billion (Tk 27,060 crore). The agreement, part of the nation’s Forces Goal 2030 modernisation initiative, includes pilot and crew training, maintenance support, and integrated logistics through 2035–36. The move underscores Bangladesh’s effort to enhance regional airpower and modernise its military infrastructure. The Chengdu J-10CE, the export variant of China’s J-10C multirole fighter, combines a canard-delta…

Colombo, Sept 2025 : Sri Lanka’s foreign investment policy is inconsistent and is marred by unnecessary regulations, legal uncertainty and poor bureaucratic responsiveness, the US Department of State said, citing Adani group’s pullout of a USD 400 million renewable energy project in the island nation. In its 2025 Investment Climate Statements, the department said Sri Lanka is showing signs of recovery from its 2022 economic crisis, with GDP growth hitting 5 per cent in 2024 — exceeding expectations. However, “the…

New York, Sept 2025 : Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to attend a high-level plenary meeting at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday night to address the ongoing crisis affecting Rohingya Muslims and other minority communities in Myanmar. The conference aims to identify sustainable solutions, including addressing critical funding gaps. The meeting will take place at the General Assembly Hall of the UN Headquarters from 8:00 pm (Bangladesh time). According to the Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press…

Dhaka, Sept 2025 : Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League has strongly condemned the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, accusing it of transforming what was intended as a temporary administration into a regime characterized by authoritarianism, violence, and betrayal of the very citizens it is meant to serve. The party alleged that the government’s actions — ranging from mass arrests and political persecution to attacks on minorities, academics, and women leaders — reflect a deliberate and systematic strategy rather than isolated incidents. According…

Sept 2025 : Nepal’s fragile political transition entered a turbulent new phase on Monday, as the country’s newly sworn-in interim government faced its first wave of protests from the same youth-led movement that toppled the previous administration. The developments highlight both the urgency of restoring order and the fragility of public trust in the political establishment. Fallen Protesters Declared Martyrs In its first cabinet meeting, the interim administration led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the 73-year-old former chief justice, declared…

Kathmandu, Sept 2025 : Two days after assuming office as head of Nepal’s interim government, Prime Minister Sushila Karki expanded her Cabinet on Sunday, inducting three new ministers tasked with stabilising the country amid political turmoil and widespread protests. Former finance secretary Rameshore Khanal has been appointed finance minister, noted lawyer Om Prakash Aryal has been given charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and former Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) executive director Kulman Ghising will head the Ministry of Energy…

Sept 2025 : London police intervened on Friday after protesters hurled eggs at vehicles belonging to the Bangladesh High Commission and briefly attempted to block the path of Mahfuz Alam, adviser on information and broadcasting to Bangladesh’s interim government, outside SOAS-University of London. According to reports, Alam was not inside the car that was struck. The Metropolitan Police acted promptly, dispersing the crowd and ensuring security. The Bangladesh High Commission confirmed that authorities were in constant contact and that Alam…

Sept 2025 : Nepal is undergoing one of the most dramatic political transitions in its recent history after a week of deadly unrest that left more than 50 people dead and over 1,300 injured. President Ramchandra Paudel on Friday night announced the dissolution of parliament and called for fresh elections on March 5 next year, marking a decisive moment for the Himalayan nation. The announcement came only hours after Paudel appointed Sushila Karki, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme…

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister, becoming the country’s first woman to hold the post. Her appointment follows days of deadly anti-corruption protests that toppled the previous government, leaving at least 51 people dead and plunging the Himalayan nation into crisis. Backed by a youth-led protest movement and endorsed by the president and army chief, Karki will lead an interim government tasked with holding parliamentary elections within six months. Kathmandu, Sept 2025 —…