Hello and Namaste from Nepal!
We’re thrilled to bring you the very first edition of Nepali Dias Express, your trusted weekly digest of what’s happening back home, why it matters, and how it connects to Nepalis living around the world.

📰 Nepal Highlights

1. Nepal Rastra Bank Finally Lets IT Companies Go Global
Yep, it’s official. The NRB has carved out an exception to a nearly 6 decades old law that prohibited Nepali residents from investing outside of Nepal. As a result, IT companies in Nepal can now legally invest abroad in other tech companies.

NRB’s new rule means founders back home can team up with folks like you abroad; whether it's starting a joint venture, investing in a global startup, or opening a satellite office.

It’s a huge step for Nepal’s tech scene, and a real chance to build cross-border together.
👉 Read the full story

2. Two Payment Companies Busted for Illegal Hundi + Smuggling Ops
Big move by NRB this week: they’ve cancelled the licenses of Paywell and Sajilo Pay after uncovering their involvement in underground money transfers (a.k.a. hundi) and even smuggling.

This isn't just a compliance slap; the police have detained people from both companies, and it’s raised fresh questions about how secure and regulated our digital payment ecosystem really is.

3. A Budget Clause May Break 350+ Hydropower Projects
Nepal’s government just proposed a quiet little change in the budget, and it might wreck over 350 hydropower projects.

For years, developers built power plants because NEA promised to buy their electricity no matter what (it’s called take-or-pay). That’s how banks gave out loans. That’s how Nepal lit up.

But now? The new plan says NEA will only pay if it actually uses the power (take-and-pay). No usage = no cash. That puts Rs. 66 billion of investment at serious risk.

IPPAN (the umbrella organization of the independent power producers in Nepal) has lodged strong protest against the proposed provision and the Government seems to be reconsidering it already. But nothing is official as yet.

At the same time, there’s talk of finally letting private power producers sell directly to clients, breaking NEA’s monopoly. Could be revolutionary, or a total mess.

If you’ve ever thought about backing clean energy projects in Nepal, this one’s worth watching. Big money. Big impact. Big question marks.

4. The Big Story of the Week: The Visit Visa Scandal

Hundreds trafficked. Millions in bribes. And a network that ran so smoothly, it had software to track who paid who.

In this week’s Deep Dive, we unpack the full timeline of Nepal’s biggest human trafficking scandal; how it started, who’s involved, and why the Home Minister is at the center of it all.

👇 Scroll down for the full breakdown.

🌐 Global Affairs

1. US Wants to Tax Remittances – and Nepal Could Lose Millions
This one’s huge. A new bill in the US Congress proposes a 3.5% tax on remittances sent abroad by non-citizens. That includes students, workers, green card holders, you name it.

If passed, sending money from the US to Nepal will get way more expensive. We're talking $25 million+ lost each year. And guess who that hits the hardest? Nepali families back home, depending on that money for rent, education, and groceries.
This could push many to use informal routes, which makes it even harder for Nepal to track and hold foreign currency.

2. Nepali Embassy Opens Online Evacuation Form Amid Israel Conflict
With the Israel–Iran situation worsening, Nepal’s embassy in Tel Aviv has started online evacuation registration for Nepalis who feel unsafe or want to return home. It’s a precautionary move for now, but an important one.

3. NRNA Sets Up Hotline for Nepalis in Israel
The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) is also stepping up. They’re launching a hotline to provide info, check in on workers, and coordinate any rescue or repatriation efforts. Most Nepalis in Israel say they’re okay for now, but everyone’s on alert.

🔍 Deep Dive of the Week

The Visit Visa Scandal That Shook Nepal: How It Really Unfolded

You’ve probably seen the headlines about the visit visa scandal in Nepal, with the Home Minister caught in the political firestorm.

But if you’re like most people, you’re probably wondering:
“What actually happened? How did it start? And how deep does it go?”

Let’s walk through it; step by step.

A System Built on Loopholes

This story starts long before any raid or resignation demand. For years, traffickers in Nepal have been using “visit visas” to illegally send people abroad, mostly women.

Nepal officially banned sending women as domestic workers to Gulf countries back in 2016. But traffickers found a workaround: get them out on visit visas instead. No labor approval needed, no legal trail.

And it wasn’t just a few shady agents, it became a full-blown underground industry involving:

• Immigration officers

• Travel agents

• Airline staff

• High-level bureaucrats

• And, allegedly, people in the Home Minister’s own office

Bribes, Passports, and A Daily Business

Here’s how it worked:
A person desperate to go abroad pays Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 300,000.
Fake documents are arranged. Airline staff and immigration officials “clear” the traveler.
And in return, the system silently collects money (up to Rs. 5 million per day.)

It got so organized that they even had a software system at Tribhuvan International Airport to manage bribes, tracking who paid, how much, and whose pocket it ended up in, like a CRM, but for corruption. Really makes one wonder: did they also have a dashboard showing “Top Bribe Collectors of the Month.”?

Red Flags Were Raised (But Ignored)

This wasn’t completely under the radar. Two years ago, police investigators flagged over 1,600 suspicious passports tied to human trafficking. But what happened?

Those investigating officers were quietly transferred.
Investigations stalled.
And the operation continued.

Then Came the TIA Raid

In May 2025, everything changed.

Nepal’s anti-corruption body, the CIAA (Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority), received multiple complaints pointing to illegal trafficking and bribery at Kathmandu airport.

So they acted.
They raided the immigration office at TIA, seizing mobile phones, laptops, documents, surveillance footage, and what not

And just a day before the raid, the Chief of Immigration, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, was suddenly transferred to the Home Ministry. Suspicious timing? Everyone thought so.

The Arrest That Triggered a Political Storm

On May 21, Bhattarai was arrested.
And his devices? A goldmine.

The evidence showed direct communication between him and members of the Home Minister’s secretariat, allegedly coordinating how people were cleared, who got promoted, and who was paid.

They had built a network from the airport desks to the Home Ministry itself.

Parliament Erupts

As soon as the public found out, so did Parliament.

The opposition, led by Maoist Centre (MC), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), demanded Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resign immediately, saying he either knew or should have known.

For two weeks, Parliament was blocked. Nothing moved. Not even budget discussions.
The pressure mounted. Protestors outside, deadlock inside.

So How Did It Actually Work, Day-to-Day?

Let’s break down the typical trafficking path:

1. A recruiter or agent convinces someone to go abroad via a visit visa

2. They pay a large bribe

3. Airline staff help clear boarding issues

4. Immigration officers wave them through, sometimes despite fake papers

5. Everything gets logged in the underground bribe-tracking system

6. The traveler ends up undocumented abroad, often in exploitative jobs

According to reports, over 250 women were trafficked to Dubai each day using this route. Every single day.

The Formal Complaints & Ongoing Probe

On May 23, a formal complaint was filed against Home Minister Lekhak and others, alleging they were involved in, or at least protected, the network.

The CIAA’s investigation is still ongoing. Some arrests have been made. More evidence is being collected. Some top officials have already been suspended.

But the big question remains: Will the political leadership be held accountable?

📍 Where Things Stand Now

As of this week:

• The three big players: Nepali Congress, CPN-UML (Emale), and Maoist Centre (MC), have entered into a fragile agreement to get Parliament back on track.

• But RSP and RPP are still boycotting and disrupting sessions, refusing to back down without ministerial accountability.

You may wonder: So, what made MC suddenly soften its stance?

On June 4, the Supreme Court ordered a criminal investigation against Agni Sapkota, a senior MC leader, for his alleged involvement in the 2005 abduction and murder of Arjun Lama.
The verdict was a major jolt, especially for a party built on post-conflict politics, and many believe MC had no choice but to seek political cover by siding with the ruling coalition.

If you follow the timeline of events, one thing is quite clear: political self-interest still calls the shots in Nepali politics.

Meanwhile:

• Home Minister Lekhak still hasn’t resigned.

• He claims it’s all a political conspiracy to ruin his reputation.

• But the rest of the opposition (primarily the RSP and RPP) isn’t convinced, and they’re not letting it slide.

• RSP even claims that more than 2,000 victims came forward after the party made a public call on May 28 for people defrauded through visit visa scams to submit evidence and contact the party.

Why It Matters to the Diaspora

If you're part of the global Nepali community, this isn’t just a domestic issue.

It’s about:

• The safety of Nepalis trying to migrate

• The credibility of our government when you try to do business or invest

• And the trust in a system that still makes it easier to smuggle people than to help them thrive legally

Many of us left Nepal chasing opportunity and safety. This scandal shows how stacked the system still is against those trying to do the same today.

And that’s all for this week. But then, we need your help!

From the Diaspora

Spotlight on a Nepali abroad, a community story, or an inspiring initiative.

💌 Got a story to share?
If you're doing something meaningful abroad like building a startup, launching a project, leading a cause, or just making quiet impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Reach out to us, and we’ll feature you in an upcoming edition of Nepali Dias Weekly. Let’s celebrate our community together.

Have a story, feedback, or tip? Email us at: [email protected]

We are also looking for partners and sponsors. Please drop an email to know more.

Like what you read and want to continue reading such updates? Share this newsletter with your friends and family across the globe.

Follow Us in Linkedin 
🧠 Powered by Nepali Dias

That’s it for this week. THANK YOU, धन्यवाद for being part of our very first edition!
If it sparked thought, curiosity, or even a little outrage, please share it with someone in your network.

Let’s grow this community of informed, engaged, and impactful global Nepalis.

Until next week, stay grounded, stay global.
— Team Nepali Dias