South Asia: Society

Dhaka experienced a significant exodus of residents traveling out of the city for the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, leaving the capital largely deserted. The reduced activity led to an improvement in the city's air quality, which reached 'moderate' levels. Prior to the departure, large religious congregations were held, including one at the Parliament House.

In Thailand, authorities are preparing for severe weather and regional instability. The Meteorological Department warned of high temperatures for next month, with heat indices potentially reaching 60°C in early April, amid broader concerns about a prolonged dry season linked to a 'Super El Niño'. Concurrently, the government is accelerating evacuations and has placed 110,000 of its nationals on alert due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the body of a deceased Thai citizen being repatriated from Israel.

Elsewhere in the region, initiatives focused on talent retention and gender equality were reported. In Vietnam, Fields Medalist Ngo Bao Chau recruited six world-class mathematicians for a new initiative aimed at reversing the brain drain of scientists. In Sri Lanka, multiple organizations, including the Sri Lanka Free Workers' Union and the Colombo Stock Exchange, held events to mark International Women's Day, promoting inclusive banking and women's leadership. Separately, a group of 120 Bulgarian tourists stranded in the Maldives due to a war were safely evacuated on a charter flight.