Birganj is the prize

This week we feature two thriving cities in Madhes: Janakpur and Birganj. While Janakpur has established itself as the capital of Madhes Province, Birganj now has a new vibrancy in culture, the arts and cuisine.

Coincidentally, exactly 20 years ago this week we featured Birganj and how its status as the commercial hub of the country made it a target of the Maoists during the peak of the insurgency in the 2000s. Excerpts of the story published in issue #206 23-29 July 2004:

The central Tarai and Birganj used to be known as the least Maoist-affected area of the country. But since the collapse of the ceasefire last August, there has been a dramatic increase in Maoist control in the region. This is not due to the Maoist's own strengths, but rather the vacuum left by the dissolution of elected local bodies, the pullback of police and the lack of political will to deploy security forces.

The Maoists have now made Birganj their prize. A border town and an affluent trading city, it is not only a safe transit point for Maoists crossing over into India but also an ideal place to extort money from businesses, shops and factories along the Birganj-Simara highway.

The assassination of Birganj's popular mayor Gopal Giri in April was the final proof that the rebels have made the control of Birganj an important priority because this would not only give them access to 'donations' but also controlling Birganj will mean control over what goes in and out of Kathmandu.

For archived material of Nepali Times of the past 20 years, site search: nepalitimes.com