Hem Raj Sharma has been unanimously selected as the president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) after contenders for the post reached a consensus during the association’s 12th Global Conference and General Assembly in Kathmandu.

Rival contender Rabin Bajracharya announced his support for Sharma at a press conference on Sunday evening, saying he withdrew his candidacy to ensure the event remained a “Convention of Unity” and to avoid the financial burden an election would place on the association. Bajracharya agreed to serve as vice-president.

Rabin Sherchan, who had earlier withdrawn his claim for the presidency, will also serve as a vice-president.

TB Karki, election commissioner for the event, said that the final list of names for the remaining posts will be made public on Monday.

Meanwhile, speakers at the fourth session of the conference, titled ‘Rights of Nepali Diaspora and Dignified Labour Migration’, called for legislative reforms to ensure the effective implementation of Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) citizenship.

Delegates and participants emphasised that although the Constitution of Nepal grants economic, social and cultural rights to Nepalis abroad, the upcoming Parliament and government must prioritise amending existing laws to resolve current legal deadlocks.

Radheshyam Adhikari, a member of the Constituent Assembly and a senior advocate, said that although provisions granting economic, social and cultural rights to Nepalis abroad were introduced after considerable deliberation, they remain unimplemented. He noted that while the second amendment to the Citizenship Act 2006 has been introduced, the failure to amend other related laws has hindered its execution.

NRNA president Binod Kunwar expressed frustration, stating that NRN citizenship currently provides fewer benefits than the NRNA membership card. “Why was it written into the constitution if it isn’t being implemented?” he asked. “The rights guaranteed under citizenship must be put into practice.”

Gopal Dhital, general secretary of People of Nepali Origin (PNO), said people of Nepali origin abroad are eager to connect with Nepal economically, socially and culturally. “There are 300,000 in Myanmar, between 80,000 and 100,000 in Thailand, and many others in Malaysia and Fiji. They all wish to connect with their motherland and share in its joys and sorrows,” he said.

Hom Kirat Sunuwar, general secretary of the British Gurkha Nepali Citizenship Continuation Campaign, said it was regrettable that Gurkhas were not specifically addressed in the constitution despite bilateral agreements. He argued that Gurkhas should retain citizenship by descent rather than being categorised under the general NRNA provision.

Ram Kaji Khadka, head of the Central Asia, West Asia, and Africa Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointed out that 1.8 million Nepalis in the Middle East face risks due to geopolitical complexities. “Data on those at risk is being collected, and all security measures are being pursued in cooperation with the NRNA,” he said.

Basanta Karki, senior programme officer at the International Labour Organization (ILO), said the primary concern is protecting affected workers. He noted that dialogues are ongoing with destination country governments to ensure workers’ rights and safety.

Labour migration expert Rameshwar Nepal of Equidem Research Nepal stressed that both employers and sending countries must respect fundamental rights during foreign employment.

Binod Bhattarai, chairman of the Returnee Federation, said there is still insufficient understanding of how Nepal can achieve prosperity by utilising the knowledge, skills and capital of returnees.

The 12th NRNA Global Conference and General Assembly began in Kathmandu on March 14.