KATHMANDU, July 30: The hotel occupancy in Thamel—the main tourist hub in Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu—has surged lately, rebounding from a previous low of 24 percent. This increase came as a result of an internet shutdown imposed by the Bangladeshi authorities to contain ongoing protests by students across major cities in Bangladesh.
As the unrest escalated and the government imposed the internet outage to thwart the protests, most of the employed IT professionals in Bangladesh were unable to work from home. This forced them to move out of the country temporarily to complete their assignments, with Nepal becoming the preferred destination due to its on-arrival visa regime and less than an hour flight distance.
Officials at the Department of Immigration said Bangladeshi nationals have been entering Nepal in recent days through flights and roadways. The actual figures are not known, but it is estimated that more than 1,000 Bangladeshi nationals arrived in Kathmandu in the aftermath of the protests spearheaded by students, according to Director General Kosha Hari Niraula.
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These workers, who were previously handling outsourcing tasks for international companies, have been staying in hotels in Thamel. Their presence has significantly boosted hotel bookings in the area.
In Bangladesh, only 44 percent of first- and second-class government jobs are merit-based under the existing reservation system. The remaining 56 percent are reserved for specific communities: 30 percent for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for people from underdeveloped districts, 5 percent for ethnic minorities, and 1 percent for people with physical disabilities.
The students, primarily university attendees, are protesting against the 30 percent government job quota for families of 1971 War of Independence veterans proposed by Sheikh Hasina-led government amidst high youth unemployment in the country.
Although the Bangladeshi government restored internet services five days ago, some of its nationals remain in Nepal due to the fear of potential internet disruption as a result of ongoing demonstrations. The long strike starting on July 16 resulted in violence, with people protesting against the job reservations in the government.
Hoteliers in Kathmandu have reported an unexpected rise in bookings, with not only Bangladeshi guests but also visitors from the US, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and various European countries contributing to the increase. Bangladeshi visitors are using the hotels as temporary workspaces and are expected to remain in Nepal until their work is completed.
