KATHMANDU, JANUARY 6
An all-party, all-sides meeting held here has agreed to halt the ongoing protest demonstrations in Birgunj that have been taking place over the past several days.
Following the consensus reached at the meeting convened today under the leadership of the District Administration Office (DAO) of Parsa, the curfew imposed since Monday was lifted at 3:30 pm today.
Chief District Officer (CDO) of Parsa, Bhola Dahal, said the curfew was lifted after participants committed not to organize demonstrations or protests in Birgunj in connection with incidents occurring in other countries or locations.
"We decided to lift the curfew after a consensus between the two communities contributed to an improved situation and the stabilization of law and order. Daily life in the area is now gradually returning to normal," he said.
The meeting also decided that any group intending to stage a demonstration must first submit a memorandum to the Chief District Officer with prior permission and may proceed with protest activities only after receiving approval.
CDO Dahal further stated that it was agreed to establish a Permanent Harmony Mechanism, in accordance with a set schedule, comprising representatives of district-level political parties and leaders from various religious communities. The mechanism will work to curb activities that undermine religion, society, and communal harmony, and will recommend appropriate legal action when necessary.
According to Dahal, Ranjit Sah and Ranjan Singh will represent the Hindu community in the Permanent Harmony Mechanism, while Mohammad Mahbub Ali (Sheru) and Ali Asgar Madani will represent the Muslim community.
The meeting also decided to ensure representation from other religious communities, as well as one representative from each district-based political party, as required.
Similarly, the mechanism will include the participation of the Chair of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and representatives of civil society as members.
The meeting urged all media outlets to ensure that their reporting does not undermine religious, cultural, or social goodwill.
Likewise, the local administration was urged to remain proactive in bringing those responsible for jeopardizing religious, cultural, and social harmony within the purview of the law.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to encouraging discipline and patience within their respective communities, preserving mutual goodwill by acknowledging shortcomings on all sides.
The meeting was also unanimous in pledging to play constructive roles from their respective positions to normalize the situation and refrain from launching any further protest programmes.
