Nabil Bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gyanendra Dhungana, has resigned, fueling speculation about his potential appointment as the next Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).  

According to a source at the bank, Dhungana submitted his resignation to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. A senior bank official told Aarthik Abhiyan National Daily, a sister publication of New Business Age, that he informed employees about his resignation on Tuesday.  

Dhungana is reportedly a strong contender for the role of NRB Governor, as the government has initiated the selection process for the position. His resignation comes at a time, with the tenure of the current Governor, Maha Prasad Adhikari—who was appointed on April 6, 2020—set to end in less than two weeks.  

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To facilitate the appointment of a new governor, the government has formed a three-member committee, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel. The committee also includes former NRB Governor Bijaya Nath Bhattarai and former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Bishwo Paudel.  

Nabil Bank’s principal promoter is a company owned by Nepali Congress lawmaker Binod Chaudhary.