KATHMANDU, Sept 12: Nepal's political circle was shaken early Tuesday as Subash Nembang, the chairman of the Constituent Assembly and the CPN-UML vice chairman, died of a sudden heart attack. He was 70.  

Family sources reported that Nembang experienced a severe heart attack at approximately 1:15 am while at his residence in Baluwatar. He was immediately rushed to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

It is said that Nembang was found unconscious in the bathroom of his residence. Regrettably, by the time family members found him and rushed him to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TU Teaching Hospital), he had already passed away.

Nembang's body was taken from Maharajgunj-based TU Teaching Hospital to the CPN-UML's central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur, where it was kept for the entire day for well wishers to pay tributes. UML leaders said the body will be kept at the party office till Wednesday for offering the last tributes.

Serving as the chairperson for both the initial and subsequent constituent assemblies from 2008 to 2015, he successfully orchestrated the promulgation of the constitution on September 15, 2015. His pivotal role in uniting all political factions was instrumental in ensuring that the constitution was crafted and finalized within the established deadline.

The then NC President Sushil Koirala was the prime minister when the Constituent Assembly promulgated the new constitution. Since Koirala passed away in 2016, the death of Nembang marks the end of the leaders who played key roles in the promulgation of Nepal’s new constitution that introduced federalism in the country. 

In addition to being chairman of the Constituent Assembly that promulgated Nepal's new constitution in 2015, Nembang also served as a minister and Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR). 

Various political leaders including President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal paid last tributes to Nembang on Tuesday.

"To me, Subas Chandra Nembang was not just a vice-chairman of the party but a benevolent friend who shared in our moments of happiness and sorrow alike. We will forever cherish his contributions to the development of our democratic constitution. My deepest condolences go out to my soft-spoken, humble, and respectable friend, Subas Nembang. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to his life partner and family. Condolences, Subasji," Chairman Oli wrote in his Facebook status.

His final rites will be conducted as per the Mundhum cultural tradition upon the arrival of his sons from the United Kingdom and Australia. Nembang's eldest son, Mingso Nembang, is scheduled to arrive in Nepal from the UK on Wednesday afternoon. He resides in the UK with his family. His younger son, Suhang Nembang, who departed for Australia 15 days ago, is expected to return home on Tuesday night, according to Krishna Kafle, Nembang's personal secretary.

Likewise, a meeting of the UML Secretariat took place at the party headquarters Chyasal on Tuesday, endorsing a special condolence motion over the demise of the party leader. As a mark of tribute, the meeting decided to lower the party’s flag to half-mast at all party offices nationwide during the mourning period. 

Nembang is survived by two sons and two daughters.

Govt declares public holiday on Thursday to mourn his demise 

KATHMANDU, Sept 12: The government has declared a national holiday on Thursday to mourn the death of CPN-UML leader and Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang. The last rites of Nembang are scheduled to be held on Thursday amidst state honor. 

Issuing a public notice on Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said all the government offices including Nepali embassies abroad will remain closed on Thursday to mourn the sudden death of Constituent Assembly Chairman Nembang. In addition, national flags will be flown half-mast in these government bodies over Nembang’s death.  

 
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