Biratnagar, March 21:

The second day of the nationwide indefinite general strike called by industrialists and businessmen had a partial effect in the eastern region today.

Most of the factories in Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor were operated. Administrative officer of the Industrial Organisation Morang, Som Adhikari, said none of the industries were forcibly closed. He added that those who halted operation in their factories did so voluntarily. There are over 450 factories being operated in the industrial corridor. Some 200 factories remained closed today.

Though nine business organisations in Biratnagar had yesterday decided to support the indefinite bandh until the eight parties gave a written commitment to resolve the problems faced by the business community, some business houses, academic institutions and industries were opened. The vehicles were also seen plying as usual.

There was no effect of bandh in Biratnagar. Shops in the main bazaar were opened while short route vehicles plied as usual. The effect of the strike was partial in Ilam, Saptari, Siraha and Udaypur. The strike was defied completely in Jhapa.

In Dhading, normal life was affected due to the strike. Although Dhading Chambers of Commerce and Industries (CCI) issued a press statement urging the local businessmen not to continue the strike today, the businessmen of the district headquarters closed the bazaar expressing solidarity to the strike called by the FNCCI.

In Lamjung, Lamjung CCI staged a protest demonstration and also organised a corner meeting in Besisahar. Addressing the corner meet, chairperson of the Lamjung CCI Ramesh Kumar Piya said the strike would continue until the Maoists gave up their violent activities. He also urged the government to declare the industrial and business sector as peace zone. The main bazaars of Lamjung, including Besisahar, Khudi Udaypur, Bhoteodar and Sundarbazaar, were closed.

In Pokhara, the FNCCI strike was continued for the second day, chairperson of Pokhara CCI Deepak Shrestha said. Most of the shops remained shut. The academic institutions were opened while vehicles also plied as usual.

Meanwhile, Laxmi Bahadur Bhattarai, chairman of the Regional Hotels’ Association Pokhara, expressed concern over the recent incident of a hotelier being thrashed by the Maoists in Kathmandu.

A report from Bara said normal life was affected in Jeetpur today due to the bandh called by Jeetpur branch of the Bara CCI expressing solidarity to FNCCI’s strike. Effect of the strike in other parts of the district was negligible. Bazaars in district headquarters Kalaiya remained open while academic institutions, too, were opened.