KATHMANDU, March 16: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has briefed top leaders of various political parties about her state visit to Bangladesh next week.

During an all-party meeting held at her office in Shital Niwas on Tuesday afternoon, President Bhandari informed leaders of all major political parties that she is paying a state visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of her Bangladeshi counterpart.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), President Bhandari is paying a two-day State Visit to Bangladesh from 22 to 23 March at the friendly invitation of the President of Bangladesh Mohammad Abdul Hamid. Nepali delegation accompanying President Bhandari will consist of Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Secretaries and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the President, and other relevant ministries.

President Bhandari will attend the celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, in Dhaka during her stay in Bangladesh. President Bhandari will deliver a statement on the theme of "Nepal-Bangladesh Relations and Bangabandhu's Birth Centenary".

She will also hold talks with the President of Bangladesh at Bangabhaban. While in Bangladesh, the President will visit National Martyrs Memorial at Savar and Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi. A cultural troupe will also be a part of the Nepali delegation which will show a cultural performance during the birth centenary celebration program in Dhaka.

According to a press statement issued by the Office of President on Tuesday evening, President Bhandari urged political leaders to give continuity to mutual discussions and dialogue on issues related to day-to-day problems of ordinary citizens such as education, health, economy, drinking water, and climate change.

On the occasion, President Bhandari recalled calling an all-party meeting after all political parties showed unprecedented national unity to endorse new political that includes Kalapani, Lipu Lekh, and Limpiyadhura through the parliament. Highlighting the effects of COVID-19 on the country’s economy, education, health, and tourism, she thanked all the frontline workers and political leaders for their contribution to make the government’s campaign to tackle COVID-19 a success.

Political leaders present in the meeting had put forth their views on the concurrent political situation in the country. According to the Chairman of Rashtriya Janamorcha Chitra Bahadur KC, Prime Minister reiterated that there was no alternative to dissolve the parliament and go to a fresh election. He also argued that his decision to dissolve the parliament and announce mid-term polls was justified. 

The meeting called by President Bhandari is attended by Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman of Janata Samajbadi Party Mahanta Thakur, and former Chairman of Council of Minister Khil Raj Regm, among others leaders. Former prime ministers trio Baburam Bhattarai, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, however, chose to abstain from the meeting called by President Bhandari at Shital Niwas on Tuesday afternoon. 

While Khanal and Nepal belong to the rival faction of the CPN-UML, Bhattarai heads the federal council of the Janata Samajbadi Party.  Sources said they decided to skip the meeting questioning the role of President Bhandari in the row of the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party (NCP). They have publicly alleged that President Bhandari had failed to act as a custodian of the constitution, supporting even unconstitutional moves taken by Prime Minister Oli.  

 
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