KATHMANDU: Look out, folks! Bollywood’s evergreen cine icon Dev Anand of the Hare Rama Hare Krishna (HRHK) fame is slated to grace the coming National Film Festival (NFF) scheduled through July 11-17. While it is going to be memorable for Kollywood because it is the first time that the event is being organised under the aegis of the government, it will also be special for the Bollywood actor as it will revive memories of the Kathmandu of 1970s and earlier. “Dev was thrilled the moment we broke the news to him. That certainly is a consolation for someone who has done his bit to popularise Nepal as a shooting destination,” actor Krishna Malla said. Malla waxed eloquent about what the Bollywood heart throb of yore had to say about Kathmandu. The enthusiasm, however, does not seem to be equally divided among the Kollywood players. Yuvraj Lama, actor turned-producer, said: “Of course he is going to be here, but the reports to the effect that he is being honoured are exaggerated”. Lama was talking at the Reporters’ Club today. Ironically, the fact that a Kollywood team comprising Krishna Malla and Shambhujit Baskota had travelled to Mumbai and back to ensure that the HRHK man makes it to Kathmandu seems to be lost on even those who are deeply involved in the festival. According to Malla, Dev Anand also narrated how Late King Birendra had driven to his studio while visiting Mumbai.

LDCs urge US to pass TRADE Act 2005

KATHMANDU: Readymade garment manufacturers of 14 least developed countries in Asia-Pacific region have agreed to urge US for early endorsement of a Trade Bill, seeking duty-free access for export from these poor countries. Representatives of leading business chambers from seven Asian-Pacific LDCs held a twoday long conference in the context of the US Trade Bill-2005 in Dhaka from June 21-22 and adopted a Dhaka Declaration. A precipitous loss of employment in apparel industries would be catastrophic for the region in economic, social and political terms, reads the declaration. “Large-scale loss of employment and widespread poverty continue to pose huge challenges to the region. Indeed, the situation is urgent and need urgent attention.” Alliance of 14 Asian-Pacific LDCs and Tsunami-devastated Sri Lanka has been seeking duty free access to the US markets, particularly RMG and apparel products following the end of global quota system from January 1, 2005. Four US senators have sponsored the Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing Econo-mies Act (TRADE Act 2005) in the US Congress representing the 14 Asia-Pacific LDCs and Sri Lanka.