Normal life across the country has been affected due to Nepal bandh on Friday as transport services have remained off the road while most schools and businesses have closed down.

Nepal Bandh: The Durbar Marg road sans vehicles during the countrywide bandh called by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN). People could be seen walking or cycling to work, with a few motorcycles, 3-wheeler public transportation vehicles and cars seen here and there, Friday, Jun 01 07. nepalnews.com/dr

The bandh has been called by various ethnic groups led by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN). Activists of ethnic organisations have blocked road sections in several parts of Kathmandu valley including Koteshwore and Kalanki. Highways, too, wear deserted look as long-distance vehicles are not in operation.

The ethnic and lingual groups have been observing Jestha 18 (June 1) as Black Day in memory of a ruling by the Supreme Court nine years ago to ban the use of local language as formal language in local bodies. The apex court had made the ruling in response to a writ filed against the use of Newari and Maithili language by Kathmandu metropolitan and Rajbiraj municipality, respectively.

Pasang Sherpa, president of NFIN, said they had announced bandh to observe the Black Day and to press for ethnicity-based proportional representation system in Constituent Assembly and to demand annulment of provisions in interim constitution that violate rights and interests of ethnic communities.

The bandh has been backed by Maoist-affiliated Ethnic Regional Republican Federation. “The state is still indifferent to the demands raised by indigenous nationalities and lingual minorities. We are preparing for next movement for justice and equality,” said Maoist MP Suresh Ale Magar.

On the eve of bandh, the ethnic groups held torch-lit processions in various parts of the city on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has arranged shuttle bus service for national and international air passengers from airport to various hotels and vice versa today. According to the NTB, the shuttle bus will operate in three different routes as follows.

Route 1
Airport – NAC – Newroad – Hotel Annapurna – Thamel Chowk – Lainchour Chowk – Hotel Shanker Hotel – Ambassador – Airport
Route 2
Airport – Hotel Radisson – Hotel Shangrila – Narayan Gopal Chowk – Maharajganj Chowk – Hyatt Regency – Chabahil Chowk – Hotel Dwarika – Airport
Route 3
Airport – Tinkune Chowk – Hotel Everest – Maitighar Chowk – Hotel Himalaya – Hotel Soaltee – Hotel Grand – Airport
For further information, the Tourist Police can be reached at 4247041 and 01 6213591 or NTB’s Media Center can be reached at 4225709 or 9851087744.