The banda enforced in Palpa for the last 11 days to protest against the constitution amendment bill to divide Province 5 was called off on Saturday. 

A joint struggle committee of various political parties, formed to protest the bill, decided to withdraw the banda effective from Sunday, in view of the hardships faced by the people. The committee, however, said that it would continue other protests.

The people in the district had been exerting pressure on the committee to lift the banda that had crippled daily life, shut down schools, transportation service and businesses.

Meanwhile, the committee formed a human chain to protest the amendment bill in Tansen, the district headquarters, on Saturday. Hundreds of people from the villages adjoining Tansen had come to participate in the demonstration that later converged into a mass assembly that was addressed by the local leaders of various political parties.

Gulmi shutdown on

The indefinite district banda continued in Gulmi for the 11th consecutive day on Saturday. Schools, shops and transportation service in the district have remained shut, while protests are taking place against the constitution amendment bill to split Province 5. Protesters staged a baton rally in Tamghas. They warned of intensifying the protests if the bill tabled in Parliament is not withdrawn. In Pyuthan, the agitating parties have announced a fresh protest programmes against the bill. They plan to stage a torch rally, picket the District Administration Office and shut down transportation service.