Recommendation Committee for Governor Appointment Completed, Process Set to Move Forward

Kathmandu — The government has filled the vacant position in the recommendation committee formed to appoint a new Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. In a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday evening at Baluwatar, former Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari was appointed as a member of the committee, completing its formation.

Earlier, a three-member committee had been formed under the coordination of Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, with members Bishwo Poudel and Bijaya Nath Bhattarai. However, Bhattarai resigned on Baisakh 10, expressing dissatisfaction, which left the committee incomplete and halted the governor appointment process. The central bank has been without a governor since Chaitra 25.

Meanwhile, a political consensus between ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML had emerged to appoint Dr. Gunakar Bhatta as the next governor. Bhatta subsequently resigned from his post as Executive Director of the central bank, but his resignation has not yet been approved.

Acting Governor Dr. Neelam Dhungana delayed approval of Bhatta’s resignation, prompting Finance Minister Poudel to issue a directive for its implementation earlier this week. Now that the recommendation committee has been completed, the process for appointing a new governor is expected to move forward.