Parsa, May 19 -- month dispute over the chief administrative officer at Birgunj Metropolitan City has escalated further, with the local government deciding to suspend all services and hand over office keys to the federal ministry.

According to Navaraj Phuyal, press adviser to Mayor Rajeshman Singh, a meeting held on Monday attended by the mayor, Deputy Mayor Imtiyaz Alam, and most ward chairpersons decided to shut down services and travel to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration on Wednesday to submit the office keys.

The metropolitan city has continued to refuse to allow Joint Secretary Reshamlal Kandel, whom the federal government transferred to Birgunj four months ago, to assume office as chief administrative off...