KATHMANDU, Sept 4: President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday has conferred medals, awards, decoration and honors on 345 personalities, living or dead, from different walks of life in recognition of their contributions to the country.

The announcement was made on Republic Day 2074 BS. The awards were presented in a program organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the office of the President, Sheetal Niwas.

The Nepal Ratna Bibhushan has been conferred on former Prime Minister BP Koirala (posthumously). The Bibhushan was received by his grandson Siddhartha Koirala.

Similarly, the Rastriya Gaurav Bibhushan has been presented to politician Mahendra Narayan Nidhi (posthumously). The Bibhushan was received by his son Bimalendra Nidhi.

Likewise, Mahaujjwal Rastradeep Bibhushan has been conferred on Seikh Idrish (posthumously), Nona Koirala (posthumously), Amik Sherchan (Chitwan), Barman Budha (Rolpa) and Ram Kumari Yadav (Dhanusha). Mohammad Aftap Alam had received the award on the behalf of Idrish while Dr Shekhar Koirala on the behalf of Nona.

General Secretary at the Federal Parliament Manohar Prasad Bhattarai has been presented the Ujjwal Kirtimaya Rastradeep Bibhushan.

Similarly, six persons were awarded with Prasiddha Prabal Jana Sewa Shree. They are Gopal Prasad Parajuli (former Chief Justice), Ishwari Prasad Khatiwada (Justice), Deep Basnyat (former Commissioner-CIAA), Umesh Mainali (Chairperson, Public Service Commission), Rajendra Chettri (Chief of Army Staffs, Nepal Army) and Lok Darshan Regmi (Chief Secretary).

Likewise, Sukirtimaya Rastradeep Bibhushan was conferred on 21 personalities. They are Nabin Kumar Ghimire (Commissioner-CIAA), Shreepurush Dhakal (Member of Public Service Commission), Pro Dr Tirtha Khaniya (Vice-Chancellor of TU), Prof Dr Ram Kantha Makaju (Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University), Prof Chiranjivi Sharma (Vice-Chancellor, Pokhara University), Prem Kumar Rai (Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs), Mahendra Man Gurung (Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Information and Technology), Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya (Secretary, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration) and Dr Tahir Ali Ansari (former Justice of Supreme Court).

The awardees also include Ashesh Malla (artist), Purna Chandra Thapa (Office of Chief of General Staff-Nepal Army), Prakash Aryal (former Inspector General of Nepal Police), Singh Bahadur Shrestha (former Inspector General of Armed Police Force), Shailendra Khanal (Inspector General of Armed Police Force), Ishwar Hamal (Major General, Nepal Army), Rabindra Chettri (honorary Major General, Rastriya Sewa Dal), Yadav Prasad Koirala (Administrative Officer, Kathmandu Metropolitan City), Bhesh Narayan Dahal (Director General, Department of Archaeology), Dr Ram Dayal Rakesh (Litterateur, Sarlahi), and Pradeep Kumar Rai ‘Byakul Maila’ (Litterateur, Okhaldunga).

Present in the event were Vice-President, Prime Minister, Speaker of House, Chairperson of National Assembly, Ministers, Chief of the constitutional bodies and VIPs among others. RSS

KATHMANDU, Aug 30: President Bidya Devi Bhandari is hosting the luncheon in honor of the Heads of State and Government of BIMSTEC Member States at Shital Niwas, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier, the Heads of State and Heads of the Government of six other member nations of BIMSTEC had reached the President House, Shital Niwas, for the joint meeting with President Bhandari. The VVIP guests are in Kathmandu to attend the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit to be held here from today.

President Bhandari’s advisor Sushil Pyakurel and the Secretary at the Office of the President Binod KC welcomed the VVIP guests from Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand to the Shital Niwas.

The Head of State of Nepal will host a lunch reception in honor of the visiting VVIPs. The event will be attended by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the high-ranking officials from Nepal. RSS

KATHMANDU, Aug 13: A foundation paper has been handed over to President Bidya Devi Bhandari demanding to declare leader of Nepal’s democratic movement, Ram Prasad Rai, as a National Luminary.

At a program organized in Sheetal Niwas on Sunday, Chairperson Tara Devi Rai on behalf of Ram Prasad Rai Memorial Foundation and Chairperson Sushma Rai on behalf of Ram Prasad Rai Foundation handed over the document prepared by experts’ team to President Bhandari asking to name Ram Prasad Rai as the national hero.

Rai, who struggled after 2007 BS protesting Delhi Agreement, had gone missing heading towards China along with Dr KI Singh. Whereabouts of Ram Prasad Rai remain still unknown.

On the occasion, President Bhandari assured her supports in declaring Rai a national luminary.

Prior to this, the Foundations submitted the paper to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for the same cause. RSS

KATHMANDU, Aug 8: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has appointed non-resident ambassadors to three countries on the recommendation of Council of Ministers.
Lakki Sherpa, the Ambassador to Australia, was appointed as the non-resident ambassador to Fiji.

Similarly, Jhabindra Aryal, the Ambassador to Egypt, was appointed as the non-resident Ambassador of Libya.

Likewise, Ambassador to Austria, Prakash Kumar Subedi was appointed non-resident ambassador to Slovenia.

The appointments were made in accordance with the Article 282 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal.

KATHMANDU, Aug 3: US Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B. Teplitz made a farewell call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the Office of the President on Thursday.

During the meeting, Nepal-US relations, issues of common interests and concerns were discussed, according to the Office of the President.

The high-ranking officials of the Government of Nepal and officials of the Embassy of US in Nepal were present on the occasion.

KATHMANDU, Oct 13: President Bidya Devi Bhandari is to consult the Election Commission and law experts in the context of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba sending a letter to the Office of the President recommending inducting the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) including RPP chairman Kamal Thapa in the present Council of Ministers.

The Office of the President stated today that the President shall decide regarding administering of oath to the new nominees after consulting the Chief Election Commissioner and commissioners of the Election Commission, and the law experts on the issue of Cabinet expansion in the situation of the code of conduct of the election to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies having already been implemented.

The Office of the President has made it clear that there was no truth whatever in the news disseminated by some media that the swearing-in program would be held on Saturday itself.