KATHMANDU – Prime Minister Balendra Shah is scheduled to leave for New York on Tuesday evening to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, but he will depart without the customary farewell ceremony at Tribhuvan International Airport.
According to government officials, Shah’s motorcade will proceed directly to the tarmac, with no guard of honour, red carpet or formal farewell involving ministers, senior officials, security chiefs, party leaders or foreign diplomats.
Officials said the decision was partly influenced by the devastation caused by the recent Bhotekoshi floods, which have left the country mourning. As of September 20, 1,436 bodies had been recovered and 4,655 people were reported missing.
Shah had initially decided against attending the UNGA following the disaster but later changed his decision and will address the General Debate on September 24. He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres the same day.
The prime minister will travel via Doha, where Acting Nepali Ambassador Kumar Rai will receive him, and is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on September 26.
Shah will be accompanied by Chief Adviser Kumar Byanjankar, Chief of Protocol Kumar Kharel, a personal photographer, two security officers and a protocol officer.