Governor Paudel Appoints Dr. Gunakar Bhatta to Governor's Office: Rejected Resignation Revived

Newly appointed Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Dr. Vishwanath Paudel, has initiated a major internal reshuffle by transferring Dr. Gunakar Bhatta from the Economic Research Department to lead the Governor’s Office.

According to Dr. Bhagwat Acharya, Assistant Information Officer at the central bank, the position became vacant after the retirement of Executive Director Prakash Shrestha, who had been seconded to the National Planning Commission. Dr. Bhatta has now been appointed to take over the leadership role in the Governor's Office.

Dr. Bhatta had previously been a frontrunner for the position of Governor. In pursuit of the role, he had submitted his resignation from his post as Executive Director in Baisakh (April). However, then-Acting Governor and fellow contender for the top post, Deputy Governor Neelam Dhungana, rejected his resignation. As a result, Bhatta was forced to withdraw from the race.

Following his exit from the competition, Bhatta had left for the United States. With Paudel’s appointment as Governor, Bhatta has now returned to a strategic position within the bank.

This move signals the beginning of structural realignments within the central bank under Governor Paudel's leadership.