Nepal Engineers’ Association (NEA-Qatar) celebrated its 54th Engineers’ Day at an event held in Radisson Blu Hotel over the weekend. The programme was chaired by NEA president Shrawan Kumar Jha, and Mani Ratna Sharma, charge d’affaires at the Nepalese embassy, attended as an honourable guest. Community leader Binesh Tamang, engineer Saligram Pokhrel, Ravi Kant Jha, founding vice president of NEA, and guests from various countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, were present.
Established in 2004, NEA-Qatar is regularly organising Engineers’ Day celebrations. The function was made entertaining with cultural shows by UNI dance crew and Nabaraj Shrestha. The celebration kicked off with the traditional  lighting of the lamp by charge d’affaires Sharma and the recital of Nepalese national anthem. Engineer Birendra Kumar Shah delivered the welcome speech in which he thanked all the delegates and guests. “On this day, the current working committee would like to remember our founders,” Shah said.
An NEA documentary was showcased featuring various activities of blood donation, beach cleaning and relief work for Nepal earthquake victims.
Sharma said he was pleased to be a part of the NEA celebration. He praised the activities conducted by NEA in the past and wished success for its future. He also extolled the collaboration and co-ordination of NEA with the State of Qatar that has helped boost the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Binesh Tamang, president of Non-Resident Nepalese Association-Qatar (NRNA—NCC), said Qatar-bound engineers should also employ their skills and expertise in their homeland.
NEA president Shrawan Kumar Jha said around 300 Nepalese engineers are working in various projects in Qatar. He added, NEA Qatar has become a platform for all the Nepalese engineers in which they share knowledge, information and problems. He also revealed that NEA was counselling newcomers who find it difficult to adjust in the new working environment.
Engineer Saligram Pokhrel presented a slide on ‘Rethinking Project Management’. It offered advice on how to carryout engineering tasks, focus on time, cost and benefit in efficient and long-term projects, risk assessment, risk management and preparation of an organisation for the future. Pokhrel is a professor in Qatar University.
The UNI dance group performed thrice in a sequence of romantic, hip-hop, Nepali cultural dance and sentimental beats. Singer Nabaraj Shrestha performed four songs. The programme was hosted by Kiran Gautam and Bibek Bahadur Shah.