Biratnagar to Host All-Province Chief Ministers Conference on Federalism
Biratnagar, the capital of Nepal's Koshi Province, is set to host all seven provincial Chief Ministers for a landmark conference on federalism and economic cooperation scheduled for October 8 and 9. The city simultaneously made headlines for the arrest of a Chinese national who operated a retail business in Central Mall under a fraudulent investment scheme, and for a dispute within the Nepali Congress over the alleged elimination of mandatory Dalit seats in a ward convention.
🗳️ All-Province Federalism Summit Set for October
The Koshi Province Government has organized a conference of all seven provincial Chief Ministers to be held in Biratnagar on October 8 and 9. The event will tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing Nepal's federal governance system, which was formally adopted under the 2015 constitution. Discussions will center on practical difficulties encountered in implementing federalism at the local level, including coordination among the three tiers of government — federal, provincial, and local. Participants will also exchange experiences and best practices in forming and running provincial administrations. Press advisor Vikram Luintel confirmed that preparations are already underway to ensure the conference runs smoothly. Economic advisor Mohan Subedi said the event is expected to serve as a milestone for strengthening inter-provincial relations and giving fresh momentum to infrastructure projects including road and bridge construction, as well as tourism and industry promotion. Chief Secretary Narayan Prasad Bhatta added that provincial ministers, deputy chairpersons of planning commissions, chief attorneys, and senior government officials from all seven provinces will attend. Bhatta expressed confidence the gathering will deliver clear direction for advancing federalism on political, economic, social, legal, and developmental fronts, and that it will meaningfully contribute to good governance and economic prosperity across Nepal. [3]
🗳️ Nepali Congress Ward Convention Sparks Dalit Representation Dispute
A controversy has erupted within the Nepali Congress over the conduct of Ward No. 3's ward convention in Biratnagar Metropolitan City. Dissatisfied members allege that three seats mandated for Dalit community representation under the party's constitution were eliminated and folded into the open category — an act they say was deliberately orchestrated to protect well-connected senior leaders who feared losing their positions. A list of 26 regional representatives elected under the open category was subsequently published, and all 26 belong to the Khas-Arya and non-Dalit communities, with no Dalit candidate included anywhere on the list. A local party leader explained that the constitution requires 23 open-category seats and 3 Dalit community seats from the ward, but that the organizing committee refused to allow Dalit candidates to contest. The vacated Dalit seats were simply reclassified as open-category positions, raising the open total to 26. The leader accused the move of being unconstitutional and motivated entirely by the desire of influential figures — including Congress Central Member Bhim Parajuli and leader Baburaja Ojha — to secure their own nominations. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within the party over inclusive representation in its internal electoral processes and raises questions about accountability within the Biratnagar party structure. [8]
Chinese National Arrested for Retail Fraud at Central Mall
Morang Police arrested a Chinese national from Biratnagar's Central Mall in what investigators say is a sophisticated scheme to circumvent Nepal's prohibition on foreign investment in the retail sector. The arrested individual, Jingxian Xie, was operating 'Yono Mart' inside the mall under a business registered in a Nepali citizen's name to conceal its true ownership. A joint team from the Morang Commerce, Supply and Consumer Interest Protection Office and Ward Police detained Xie on Wednesday evening for conducting transactions without proper billing, in violation of value-added tax and PAN requirements. Deeper investigation revealed a more complex fraud: Xie and two co-investors, Zhao Xiuhuai and Xie Konggiman, had established a company called 'Tong IT Group Private Limited' in Kathmandu, claiming to develop software, and obtained foreign investment approval through an automatic route. In reality, the group used this IT shell company to funnel foreign capital into retail operations, which are explicitly off-limits to foreign investors under Nepal's Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act. Department of Industry records show that foreign investment of Rs 2.5 million was approved for software development in Kathmandu, but the investors instead opened and operated a retail outlet in Biratnagar. The government has seized the mall shop, and the case remains under active investigation. [10]
🤝 Biratnagar Kings Selects Five Young Players for NPL Preparation Camp
NPL franchise Biratnagar Kings has given five young cricketers a significant career opportunity through the 'Dream to Play' Under-23 T20 tournament, selecting them for the team's official preparation camp. The five players chosen are Amar Yadav, Dhawan Sahani, Ayush Neupane, Kabiraj Khatri, and Suyog Bhattarai — the last of whom is a current member of Nepal's Under-16 national team, making his selection particularly noteworthy. The 'Dream to Play' initiative is designed to identify and promote emerging talent from local and regional competitions, creating a structured pipeline from grassroots cricket into the Nepal Premier League. Biratnagar Kings, one of the franchise teams in the NPL, has been active in scouting young players from the Koshi Province region, which has historically produced strong cricketing talent due to its strong club culture and passion for the game. The selection represents a genuine pathway for players who might otherwise lack direct access to professional structures and coaching environments. The preparation camp will expose these young athletes to professional standards of coaching, fitness, and match conditions demanded at the franchise level. The initiative reflects growing institutional investment in Nepal's cricket ecosystem, with Biratnagar positioned as an important development hub for the sport in the eastern part of the country. [7]
Sources: [3] Ratopati · [8] Ratopati · [10] Ratopati · [7] Ekantipur