Birgunj– The curfew imposed in Birgunj following tensions between two religious communities has been lifted, the local administration said on Tuesday.
Parsa Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal said the curfew was withdrawn after an all-party and all-sectoral meeting reached a five-point agreement to restore peace and normalcy in the district.
The local administration had earlier extended the curfew until 6 pm on Tuesday. However, following improvements in the security situation, the curfew was lifted earlier in the afternoon.
“In light of the agreement reached in the all-party and all-sectoral meeting, the strengthening of the peace and security system, and the need to facilitate the free movement of citizens, business activities, and livelihoods, the curfew order has been lifted with effect from 3:30 pm on 2082/09/22,” Chief District Officer Dahal said in a public notice.
The administration has urged all concerned to cooperate in maintaining peace and social harmony.
Permanent harmony mechanism formed
To prevent future incidents that could disrupt religious and social harmony, a permanent coordination mechanism has been formed in Birgunj.
According to Chief District Officer Dahal, the mechanism includes Ranjit Shah and Ranjan Singh representing the Hindu community, and Mohammad Mahbub Ali Sheru and Ali Asgar Madani representing the Muslim community. Representation from other religious communities will be included as necessary.
The meeting also agreed that no demonstrations or protests will be organized in Birgunj in response to incidents occurring in other countries or regions. Any aggrieved party wishing to submit a memorandum or organize a protest must first obtain permission from the District Administration Office.
The local administration has also committed to taking legal action against individuals or groups attempting to incite unrest or disrupt religious, cultural, and social harmony.
Birgunj had remained tense for the past two days following disputes related to religious and social issues. The curfew had been imposed from Monday evening as a precautionary measure.
The District Administration Office, Parsa, confirmed that the curfew has now been fully lifted.
