By Our Reporter
The year 2023 was turned into yet another disappointing year for Nepali people. Although they had expected political stability and rapid development activities immediately after the formation of the new government. No such thing happened and an exodus of Nepali in search of a better future began immediately. Many Nepalis who joined the Russian forces in a bid to make money died this year while 10 students were killed by Hamas in Israel. One is still in the captive.
At home, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Nepal, killing 153 in Jajrkot and Rukum West and rendering thousands of people homeless on November 3. Still, the poor people whose houses were damaged are living under tents braving the winter cold.
As in previous years, Nepal faced floods and landslides this year while the communal harmony was disturbed in Dharan, Sarlahi and Nepalgunj.
The country continued to face economic recession, prompting many small businessmen to shut down their businesses because of high bank interest rates and lack of money to pay the rent of the buildings and the employees.
Instead, Nepal’s image was tarnished further when the smuggling of gold to Nepal from Tribhuvan International Airport thrived. Recently, the TIA customs office itself admitted that 138 kg of gold was smuggled by a group in five months. This was revealed when 61 kg of gold hidden in brake shoes was recovered from outside the airport in July this year. Sadly, the police failed to reach the real men involved in the gold smuggling. All those arrested were only mules.
Similarly, shameful incidents like the involvement of the former deputy prime minister and home minister in sending Nepali nationals turning them into fake Bhutanese refugees were revealed this year. However, the government has weakened the case to free the politicians.
At the end of the year, a single businessman Durga Prasai was enough to shake the ground of the government. When he announced to launch of a Kathmadu-centric movement, demanding the restoration of the Hindu Kingdom, the government imposed prohibited areas in Kathmandu while the main opposition came into confrontation with Prasain. This incident proved how weak the present government led by the chairman of the Maoist Centre who waged an armed conflict in which 17,000 Nepalis were killed.
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