Birgunj, February 9:

Life in the eastern and mid-Terai districts is slowly returning to normal after the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) called off its agitation. Bazaars, factories and academic institutions reopened in most of the districts while vehicular movement also resumed.

The Birgunj bazaar reopened and vehicles resumed their operations this morning. Petroleum tankers too trundled out towards their destinations. People thronged branch offices of banks for long-pending financial transactions.

The SLC sent-up examination of government and private schools, which had been postponed twice earlier, is rescheduled to begin from February 11, the District Examination Committee said.

In Biratnagar, shops in market areas opened. LPG, petrol, foodstuffs and other daily essentials have become easily available. Hundreds of trucks stuck at the Biratnagar customs checkpoint resumed their journey.

Morang CDO Mod Raj Dotel said Rs 10,000 each was provided to the families of two persons killed in the Haatkhola incident.

In Bara, life has returned to normal in district headquarters Kalaiya. Markets

reopened. Services in government offices, on hold for the past three weeks, resumed. Vehicular movement also resumed. The Madhesi Women’s Forum and Women’s Pressure Group organised a joint condolence meet in Kalaiya.

Bazaars reopened and transportation services resumed in district headquarters of Rautahat, Gaur. Rautahat CDO Madhav Prasad Ojha said the district administration office (DAO), which was torched by MJF activists, will now temporarily be operated in an empty godown of Agricultural Inputs Corporation.

In Saptari, life normalised after a long spell of bandh. All shops in Rajbiraj municipality as well as Kanchanpur, Bhardaha and Hanumannagar reopened.

In Janakpur, business activities in main bazaars resumed after almost four weeks of the MJF-called bandh. People were seen crowding the shops for purchasing daily necessities. Businessmen and local residents are relieved after the bandh was called off.

The only rail service in the country also resumed while both short and long-route vehicles came into operation.

Tharus call bandh

Siraha: Residents of Lahan are reeling under another bandh although the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) has called off its agitation.

The Lahan unit of the Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha (TKS) called an indefinite bandh in Lahan and adjoining areas on Thursday, demanding that the Terai region be declared a Tharuhath State. TKS Lahan issued the bandh call within moments of the MJF calling off its agitation. Mainly, areas having a large number of people of the Tharu community, such as Lahan, Udaypur, Sunsari and Saptari have been affected by the TKS bandh.

Although MJF activists, through loudspeakers, urged local shopkeepers to open their shops, Lahan bazaar areas remained closed. Factories and academic institutions remained shut while vehicles also stayed off the roads.

Meanwhile, academic institutions, business houses, factories and shops reopened in Siraha, Mirchaiya and Golbazaar areas after the MJF strike ended. Transportation services also resumed.

People from all walks of life were affected during the bandh called by the MJF. The SLC sent-up exam scheduled from January 21 was also postponed. — HNS