11 MARCH 2026, WEDNESDAY
Aishal Yousuf, Akshath K, Kirsten Wilfred Coelho, Sreemaya Nair, Tanvi Thara Harendra Jha, and Vishal Manish M

Nepal: Proportional representation election completed
On 11 March, the Himalayan reported that the Election Commission (EC) had officially completed counting proportional representation results. According to the commission, 10,739,115 votes had been counted under the PR system as of Wednesday morning. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured the highest number of votes with 5,139,235, followed by the Nepali Congress with 1,749,583 votes and the CPN (UML) with 1,448,854 votes, while the Nepali Communist Party received 805,773 votes, the Shram Sanskriti Party obtained 378,649, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) garnered 329,472 votes. With vote counting finally concluded, the commission has begun preparations to determine the allocation of PR seats among political parties, which will be completed within the next few days.

Bangladesh: Dhaka forms a high-level committee to monitor tensions in the Middle East
On 11 March, The Daily Star reported that the Bangladesh government formed a high-level committee to prepare a national response plan to monitor potential economic disruptions arising due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The committee is tasked with examining risks to energy supply, trade flows, and overall economic stability. In addition, the committee may recommend measures to protect Bangladesh’s economy from external shocks. This is pertinent as Bangladesh relies heavily on imported energy and maritime trade.  

Myanmar: Junta captures last resistance stronghold in Mandalay region
On 11 March, The Irrawaddy reported that Myanmar’s military junta captured what was considered the last resistance stronghold in the Mandalay region. This comes after sustained clashes with the anti-junta resistance forces. The area was held by resistance groups aligned with the broader anti-military movement that took shape after the 2021 coup led by Min Aung Hlaing. This has been reported as a tactical gain for the military, though resistance operations still continue across several parts of the country.

Sri Lanka: Galle court orders handover of Iranian sailors’ bodies
On 11 March, the Daily Mirror reported that the Chief Magistrate of Galle ordered authorities to hand over the bodies of 84 Iranian sailors to officials at the Embassy of Iran in Sri Lanka. The bodies were kept at the Galle National Hospital, following the recovery operations after the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena was targeted by a submarine. The court order allows the formal repatriation process to proceed and represents a significant step in handling the aftermath of the Iranian naval vessel's submerging. The court order facilitates coordination between Sri Lanka and Iran regarding the repatriation of Iranian naval personnel. This incident remains tied to tensions in the Middle East, which has already had implications on Sri Lanka’s diplomacy, aviation routes, and discussions on energy security. 

Afghanistan: Afghan asylum seekers struggle at foreign detention centres
On 11 March, Hasht e Subh reported that several Afghan asylum seekers who are currently awaiting immigration decisions at detention centres in Poland are facing a range of human and health rights violations. Lack of legal support, health care and regular meals has worsened their conditions. Some elderly and sick asylum seekers are also finding it hard to live in significantly cramped rooms. Many of them claim that they were assured to be released after a period of three months by their interpreters, but Polish authorities state that they could be held up to 18 months in detention. Some have even raised concerns about violations of Polish and European Union laws arising from the poor condition of the facilities offered to them.

Iran: Mojtaba Khamenei receives elite police protection from the Iranian NOPO
On 11 March, Fox News reported that the new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, is said to be protected by a special police unit, the NOPO, under the Special Units Command. The unit has historically engaged in anti-riot and counter-terrorism operations and is well known for its “black-clad” uniforms. While the unit primarily focuses on internal security threats, it has been deployed for the supreme leader’s protection, especially considering the imminent threat from American and Israeli forces. Mojtaba has yet to appear on any public forum, which has raised several questions about his well-being.

Pakistan: Chinese firms plan USD 2.6 billion manufacturing investment in Balochistan
On 11 March, Dawn reported that Chinese companies are planning to invest about USD 2.6 billion in manufacturing and roughly USD 14 million in Balochistan's mineral sector, aiming to boost industrial activity and create employment. A Chinese investors’ delegation, accompanied by former Provincial Finance Minister Amjad Rasheed, discussed the plan with Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan in Islamabad. Investors expressed interest in minerals, agriculture, transport and tourism over the next five years. Officials highlighted prospects for expanded Pakistan–China economic cooperation.

Pakistan: Govt enforces “war austerity plan”, announces four-day workweek
On 11 March, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed federal ministries to strictly implement a “war austerity plan,” ordering third-party audits and declaring Friday an additional weekly holiday under a four-day workweek to conserve energy. A committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will monitor progress. Educational institutions in Islamabad, Sindh, and Punjab announced closures or the switch to online classes through March. Sindh approved sweeping cuts, including reduced fuel allocations, grounded official vehicles and bans on official events. Provincial measures also include work-from-home policies, spending curbs, and steps to conserve transport fuel amid the global energy crisis.