March 15: The Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) has urged the government to create an environment where banking services can operate uninterrupted. In a statement issued on Tuesday, CBFIN requested the government, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) and all other stakeholders to ensure peace and security arrangements for the operation of banks.

The statement reads, “The government of Nepal has published a notification in the Nepal Gazette stating that security agencies, hospitals, banks and financial institutions, ambulances, drinking water, waste management and other areas are defined as essential service areas and no shutdowns or strikes should be carried out in such areas. In violation of this, we deeply regret the activities of various commercial organizations, such as blocking banking services at the Kumari Bank branch office in Hetaunda on March 14, depriving customers of services, rounding them up and threatening to close the office.”

Relying on the belief that appropriate solutions to any problem can be found through dialogue and discussions, CBFIN requested that the protests and closure of the branch offices of banks and financial institutions should be stopped immediately and necessary steps should be taken to resolve the problem in an easy manner.

While the businessmen were agitating against the interest rate, the Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry had sent a letter and requested to close the branch on Tuesday. Similarly, some businessmen were also staging protests at the central office of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) in Baluwatar from Monday. The Ministry of Home Affairs has already instructed all the district administration offices to control the agitation against the banks.