Ministry of Foreign Affairs Transfers 18 Undersecretaries, Sparking Controversy

February 4, 2025
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KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has transferred 18 undersecretaries to various diplomatic missions and offices, leaving the ministry with just one undersecretary. This mass transfer has raised concerns about service disruptions and irregularities in the process. According to ministry officials, the transfers were carried out in a manner that allegedly benefits certain high-ranking officials, disrupting the workflow. Due to ongoing court cases, promotions of officers and undersecretaries have been stalled, further complicating the situation.

The controversy deepened as the transfers reportedly bypassed established protocols. Sources allege that Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana and Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai influenced the selection process, favoring their personal preferences. This has raised concerns over transparency and administrative integrity within the ministry.

The transferred officials include Uttam Kumar Shahi (BIMSTEC Secretariat), Pratham Upreti (SAARC Secretariat), Dhana Joshi (Texas, USA), Ambika Joshi (New Delhi, India), Jimson Rumdali Rai (New York, USA), Aruna Ghising (Washington, D.C., USA), Subhang Parajuli (Geneva, Switzerland), Rabindra Rajbhandari (New Delhi, India), Moti Shrish (Vienna, Austria), Bijay Kumar Raut (Colombo, Sri Lanka), Bibek Rijal (Israel), Krishna Prasad Chapagain (Dubai, UAE), Purushottam Dhungol (Islamabad, Pakistan), Shatrughan Pokharel (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Roshan Khanal (Bangkok, Thailand), Rishi Acharya (San Francisco, USA), Nitesh Sapkota (Ottawa, Canada), and Narayan Wagle (Beijing, China). The abrupt and extensive reshuffle has sparked debates within the MoFA. MoFA Officials have yet to respond to allegations of undue influence in the transfer process.