What Lies Ahead for the Historic Old Parliament Building in Baneshwor Burned During the Gen Z Movement?
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Officials have concluded that the New Baneshwor International Convention Center, burned during last year’s Gen Z movement, cannot be repaired and resumed.
On September 8th of last year, following the tragic deaths of young protestors shot near the New Baneshwor Parliament complex, the next day the now three-decade-old building, rented for parliamentary sessions, was targeted by protesters.
Hundreds gathered, setting fire and causing extensive damage to the center, which was constructed with funding and design assistance from the Chinese government, rendering critical structures unusable, officials said.
The convention center, originally named the Birendra International Convention Center after King Birendra Shah who was assassinated in the Palace Massacre and who spearheaded its construction in 1993 (2050 BS), had the “Birendra” removed from its name after the declaration of the republic in 2008 (2065 BS), experts said.
For nearly two decades, the convention center served as the parliament building and generated annual rental income of 180 million Nepalese rupees from offices such as the Parliamentary Secretariat, the Investment Board, and the Law Commission.
Following the fire during the Gen Z movement, the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, conducted a damage assessment, according to ministry spokesperson Navaraj Pyakurel.
‘Building Blueprints Not Found’
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While assessing the damage, the Building Construction Department sought the ‘structural design drawings’ or blueprints of the convention center.
Engineer Purushottam Dangol, responsible for architectural inspections on behalf of Nepal during the construction—where all design and blueprints were prepared by the Chinese side—shares their experience.
“The building’s structure and electrical systems were all designed by the Chinese. Even during inspection, the design seemed excellent according to plan. All infrastructure for security was present,” said Dangol.
According to him, this convention center was an unprecedented structure in Nepal when constructed.
Prakash Aryal, Deputy Director of the Building Construction Department, said a team of technicians and experts conducted various tests on the burnt structures.
“At the time of construction, we did not have the complete structural design drawings. The study was based on existing old records and blueprints,” Aryal said.
The center, which hosted historical events such as the SAARC Summit, peace agreements between the then CPN Maoist and the government, and the declaration of the new constitution, comprises eight halls, according to Deependra Bikram Singh, Senior Program Coordinator of the International Convention Center Development Committee.
The main hall had a seating capacity of up to 2,000 people, while other halls accommodated up to 200 individuals.
“We kept the blueprints here, but they were destroyed in the September fire,” Singh said.
Originally, an underground passage (‘underpass’) for emergencies was built beneath the main hall where the House Speaker sat.
“Behind the Speaker’s platform, there is a door leading down to a tunnel-like structure about 10 feet high, which allows exit from the building,” Singh, who has worked there since 1995 (2051 BS), explained.
“During a scuffle at a bank general meeting in 2002 (2058 BS), important people were rescued via this tunnel.”
‘Retrofit Not Feasible’
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The center’s construction began in the 1980s, but structural differences with current building codes make restoration impractical, said Prakash Aryal.
“While the side walls remain stable and we explored the possibility of retaining them and only replacing the roof, the structure is outdated and incompatible with current building regulations, making retrofitting difficult,” Aryal explained.
“A final discussion is pending at the ministry level. The study suggests two options: demolish and build anew or reconstruct in the original style.”
Officials stated that the government has not allocated funds for reconstruction in the upcoming fiscal year budget starting July 17th.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has yet to make a decision on reconstruction, so a cost study remains pending, Aryal added.
“Experts recommended that even if rebuilding in the same style, doing a complete demolition first is preferable,” he said.
‘Plans to Create a Museum’
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The Executive Director of the International Convention Center Development Committee, Dharma Raj Khadka, said no decision has been made yet on requesting assistance from China or funding reconstruction solely through government resources.
He said there is discussion about operating the site as a museum displaying materials related to the Gen Z movement until a new structure is built.
“There are internal talks about temporarily turning the location into a commercial museum or visitor center,” Khadka said.
“This would require staffing and additional expenses.”
Vehicles that caught fire during the protests have been moved from Singha Durbar and are piled up here.
Deputy Director Aryal said he is not fully aware of the museum plan but that discussions about public accessibility are underway.
“We are studying whether the site can be made more accessible to the public in a different style than before,” Aryal added.
Experts note that the land where the convention center was built was previously occupied by Nepal Army structures.
Senior Program Coordinator Singh said the center spans 153 ropanis (approximately 7.85 hectares). Outside the main complex, buildings rented to National Commercial Bank and a restaurant also belong to the convention center property.