National
Birgunj schools allowed to run during day
Even though schools in Birgunj resumed early morning classes two weeks ago, a majority of the students fell sick due to the bone-chilling cold.Bhusan Yadav
Even though schools in Birgunj resumed early morning classes two weeks ago, a majority of the students fell sick due to the bone-chilling cold. However, schools have now began running their classes in the afternoon from Sunday after the Samyutka Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha agreed to let them operate.
As the schools resumed their classes in the morning after 98 days due to the ongoing Tarai unrest, students were facing a difficult time attending classes due to the chill. Even though the Morcha leaders were compelled to open schools following heavy criticism, the Morcha is yet to allow school buses ply on the streets.
Activities in the main market area of Birgunj has also increased. A few tempos and buses are visible on the streets. According to Pradeep Yadav, a leader of the Morcha, they were forced to be flexible after four months of hardship faced by the locals. The Birgunj border has been obstructed for the past 83 days. Government officials said normal life has been heavily affected due to the obstruction of cross-border traffic at the Birgunj-Raxaul point. “Locals of Birgunj are distressed,” said Yadav, adding that the government is not being serious to address the Madhesi issues. “If the situation continues, we cannot say what will be next. We have been facing hardship for a long time now,” said a dejected local, Rajesh Patel.
Sanghiya Samabeshi Madhesi Gathabandhan leader Rajeshman Singh, however, said that the locals have not been tired of staging demonstrations. “Some of them are busy in their household activities now, but they will definitely come out of their houses in times of difficulties,” claimed Singh.
Saptari health workers protest
RAJBIRAJ: Political parties, businessmen, civil society leaders, students and representatives of other organisations took out a protest rally in Saptari on Monday against a police assault on the staff and patients at the Zonal Hospital. They urged the District Administration to punish the guilty and compensate the sufferers. SLMM cadres protested against “the government’s indifference towards addressing the Madhesi demands” at Rani in Biratnagar on Monday.