KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is departing for Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, along with his wife, Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, and other family members.

The group is scheduled to leave on a Thai Airways flight at 1:30 PM today. Former Prime Minister Deuba is reportedly traveling to Bangkok for medical treatment. The couple is expected to return home on April 25. Dr. Rana has previously traveled abroad alone for medical reasons; however, this time, her husband Congress President Deuba’s health concerns have also drawn attention.

The visit has sparked public interest due to its dual purpose: official participation in an international forum and Deuba personal health matters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Foreign Minister Dr. Rana will participate in the 81st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), which begins tomorrow in Bangkok.

The session, themed “Regional Cooperation for Resilient and Sustainable Urban Development in Asia and the Pacific”, will continue until April 25. As Nepal currently chairs UNESCAP, Dr. Rana is set to preside over the 81st session, addressing the gathering on behalf of Nepal.

She will lead a Nepali delegation that includes officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Planning Commission, and the Nepali Embassy in Thailand.