March 14: Businesspersons who were protesting against high interest rates of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have withdrawn their protest programmes. The business sector had formed the Bank and Financial Problems Struggle Committee to wage protest programmes since the past four days. They withdrew all the protest programmes after meeting with the prime minister on Tuesday.    
Vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Dinesh Shrestha shared that the business persons withdrew their protest after a discussion with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday evening. Shrestha said that the government has taken the current problem seriously and the protest programme has been postponed after the prime minister promised to take steps to address the issue and also to reduce the interest rates.    
Industrialists and businesspersons affiliated FNCCI, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Automobiles Dealers Association were protesting against high interest rates charged by the banks and financial institutions, which they said, was making it difficult to operate business.    
The protesters had been staging a sit-in at Nepal Rastra Bank since Monday. -- RSS