The government of Nepal announced early Tuesday that all international border crossing points will be closed for a three-day window immediately preceding the country's next parliamentary election. The shutdown, scheduled from  02:00 am on 1 March to 23:59 pm on 3 March , is intended to bolster security, facilitate the movement of electoral personnel and ensure an uninterrupted "free, fair and peaceful" voting process on 5 March 2026 (Falgun 21 2082 BS) . 

Why the Closure?

Transport Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel explained that the temporary suspension is a "precautionary measure" that mirrors actions taken in the 2017 and 2022 elections, when short-term border halts proved effective in curbing last-minute voter intimidation, illegal campaigning and the smuggling of contraband that could destabilize the vote.  

"We are sealing the borders for 72 hours to create a secure corridor for election officials, ballot boxes and security forces to operate without external interference," Paudel said at a press conference in Kathmandu. "The closure will be lifted immediately after the polls close, and normal traffic will resume on March 6."

Scope of the Shutdown

All six designated land crossings with India – Birgunj, Kakarbhitta, Nepalgunj, Siddharthanagar, Bhimdatta and Dhangadhi – and the three points with the People's Republic of China – Rasuwa‑Gadhi, Rasuwagadhi (Karnali) and Kimathanka – will be fully closed to passenger and cargo traffic. Air and river ports will continue limited operations for humanitarian cargo under government supervision.    

Customs officials will be redeployed to assist the Election Commission's logistical teams, transporting voting machines, ballot papers and security equipment to remote polling stations.

Political Landscape Ahead of the Vote

The date of 5 March marks the first national election in Nepal since the 2024 constitutional amendment that shortened the parliamentary term to five years and introduced a mixed‑member proportional representation system. The contest pits the incumbent Democratic Socialist Alliance (DSA) – a coalition of the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist‑Leninist, CPN‑UML) and the CPN (Maoist Centre) – against a resurgent National Democratic Front (NDF) led by the newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and a coalition of right‑wing regional parties.      

Analysts warn that the tight election timeline, combined with heightened ethnic and regional tensions in the Terai and mountainous districts, raises the stakes for any security breach.

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