Monthly Archives: December, 0

If the public debate of the Samdrup Jongkhar Thrompon election is any indication, both Thrompon candidates are determined to solve the long-standing water issue in the thromde. Among many issues in the thromde, the candidates prioritised the water issue during the debate yesterday.

Mountain Echoes brought together writers, historians, scholars, photographers, musicians, and filmmakers around the globe – to engage in dialogues of culture, arts, and literature. However, it came to an abrupt halt a decade after it was formed. The Indo-Bhutan initiative was last held in 2019. But is now in a different form - Bhutan Echoes: DrukYul’s Literature Festival. Managed and coordinated by a Bhutanese team, reading books, poetry, and book launch are some of the activities.

The former Guma Gup of Punakha will not be allowed to take part in this Local Government election. The Royal Audit Authority revoked his audit clearance on Wednesday. His candidature was rejected yesterday by the returning officer. He was nominated to represent Lakhu-Tshowom chiwog during the recent Dhamngoi Zomdu. The gewog still have two candidates vying for the seat of the Gup.

Bhutan is rich in architectural design. There are even a set of rules for the designs. We know a lot of our massive dzongs and monasteries. They are one of the country’s main attractions. But we barely remember the hands that build them. However, 71-year-old Dorji from Bjena Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang is somebody to remember. He is a man whose hands can turn a piece of rock and wood into a mastery piece of art - even to something priceless. 

The Opposition Party is accusing the government of dropping national priority projects to accommodate bye-election pledges and the projects in the Prime Minister’s constituency. According to a press release from the party, the government had diverted Nu 385 M to South Thimphu, Chhoekor-Tang and Monggar constituencies during the recent reprioritization of the 12th plan activities.

The National Council will see deliberations on the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2021 from next week. The Good Governance Committee of the House introduced the Bill today during the opening session of the Council.

For the first time, the Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessment (BCSEA) is carrying out a nationwide assessment of students in grade III. This is being done under the National Education Assessment Project. More than 4,600 sampled students from grade III across 184 sampled schools are participating in the assessment. The project will assess and monitor the country’s school education system. The assessment will end next month.

Eleven Tshogpa candidates were disqualified from contesting in the upcoming Local Government Election in Samtse. They were disqualified on grounds of party affiliation, rejection of the Security Clearance Certificate and failure to file nomination.

The Samdrup Jongkhar District Court sentenced a 26-year-old man to a three-year non-compoundable prison term for illegal possession of firearms and hunting a wild animal on Monday.

Providing exposure to the production and export of tea and coffee from India, the Indian Embassy in Bhutan organized a virtual buyer-seller meet yesterday.