Nepal unrest: Bangladeshi tourists stuck in Pokhara say ‘situation calm but uncertainty remains’
Today (10 September), speaking to The Business Standard over the phone from Hotel Crystal Palace in Pokhara, tourist Samia Tabassum said, “The situation is calm now, but uncertainty remains. Today we stayed inside the hotel. Shops are closed because the curfew is in place till 6pm, as we have heard.”
As Nepal reels from political unrest and curfews, Bangladeshi tourists stranded in Nepal's Pokhara have said that they feel safe for now but remain anxious about what lies ahead.
Today (10 September), speaking to The Business Standard over the phone from Hotel Crystal Palace in Pokhara, tourist Samia Tabassum said, "The situation is calm now, but uncertainty remains. Today we stayed inside the hotel. Shops are closed because the curfew is in place till 6pm, as we have heard."
Samia, a production intern at Independent TV, and 13 others from Bangladesh travelled to Nepal on 6 September as part of a tour group, just before unrest erupted.
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"When we came, we only knew Facebook was banned here. We didn't realise it was part of something bigger. On our way to Pokhara, we started hearing about protests and people being killed. That's when we became worried," she said.
Their return flight on Biman Bangladesh Airlines was scheduled for 3pm on 11 September, but the status remains uncertain. "All flights have been cancelled indefinitely. We don't know when services will resume.
"Maybe we'll know more tonight about whether we will get any flight tomorrow," she said.
Recounting moments of panic as violence reached their hotel area on Tuesday (9 September), Samia said, "By afternoon, all shops closed and protests intensified. We saw a building next to our hotel set on fire, and several gas cylinder blasts followed. Everyone in our group was terrified."
According to hotel staff, the building was linked to the son of a former prime minister, she said.
"Tourists were in shock. Many foreigners quickly left that hotel and moved to nearby ones. Some even came over to ours for safety," she added.
Samia described the atmosphere in Pokhara. "Most of the people we see on the streets are tourists from India and Bangladesh. Locals are staying indoors. Everyone is waiting for updates."
On the current mood in the city, she said, "The situation seems peaceful today. There is no panic. It feels like things are slowly returning to normal. But, we are still waiting to know if tomorrow's flights will operate."
