Banks and Financial Institutions to Remain Closed on Tuesday Amid Gen Z Protests

Kathmandu – Banks and financial institutions across the country will remain closed on Tuesday as the Gen Z movement intensifies. Following Monday’s violent crackdown by the state, public anger has surged, prompting authorities and bankers to shut down operations for security reasons.

The administration has imposed prohibitory orders inside the Ring Road area of Kathmandu Valley, while curfews have also been enforced in several other cities. In this context, the Nepal Bankers’ Association decided not to open bank branches on Tuesday.

Santosh Koirala, President of the Nepal Bankers’ Association, told Clickmandu that branches will remain closed not only in areas under prohibitory orders but also elsewhere. “Even in regions without curfew orders, staff would have to travel from restricted zones, making it impossible to open branches,” he explained. He further noted that the decision was made in coordination with Nepal Rastra Bank.

Bankers have also assessed that the spread of protests could pose risks of vandalism and arson at bank branches and financial institutions.

On Monday, 19 people were killed and hundreds of youths were injured when the state resorted to violent measures against demonstrators. With potential risks looming, curfew orders have been enforced in several parts of the country for Tuesday.