Government offices in Saptari resumed their operations after almost six months on Thursday.

Continuous banda and protest of the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) had forced almost all government agencies in the district to discontinue their services. As a result, service seekers in 91 VDCs and five municipalities of the district had been affected.

Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Bhatta said the government offices resumed their services

after the SLMM withdrew

the banda and halted their protest.

District Development Committee Spokesperson Nabaraj Khadka said village and municipal council meetings could not take place because of protest and banda. The district suffered a tremendous loss, he added, and since the council meetings could not take place, we fear the district will not receive adequate budget for development works.

Meanwhile, service seekers swarmed various government offices on Thursday. The bill payment counters of Nepal Electricity Authority, Drinking Water Corporation and  Nepal Telecom were packed with people who had not paid their bills for months.