Explainer: Why Nepal’s crisis matters to South Asia, Bangladesh

On Sunday, Nepal’s then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli mocked the youth protesters who were preparing for a mass rally in Kathmandu against corruption and nepotism. By calling themselves “Gen Z,” he said, they thought they could demand whatever they wanted. Less than two days later, Oli was out of office. Police firing on demonstrators on Monday left at least 19 people dead and hundreds more injured, igniting nationwide fury. By Tuesday, the unrest had spiralled into arson and attacks on government institutions. Protesters torched the parliament building, set fire to the homes of prominent politicians, and destroyed party offices. Even the headquarters of Kantipur Publications, Nepal’s largest media house, was targeted. Members of Oli’s cabinet resigned one after another...