Five people were killed in a fire that broke out at an accommodation block for foreign workers in Alif Dhaal Dhigurah. The incident was reported around 2am on Friday and eight people were taken to the island health centre with critical injuries, of whom five passed away, police told the media. Two burn victims have since been brought to Malé for further treatment and an investigation team will be dispatched to the island, police said.
Amid mounting criticism of the government’s silence in the face of a global oil shock and fears of economic upheaval, a ministerial committee formed to coordinate the government's response briefed the press and sought to assuage concerns over fuel supply and food security. Finance Minister Zameer said the government is securing an additional US$ 100 million for reserves from two multilateral agencies. An agreement has been reached and presidential approval is pending. STO's projected MVR 1.5 billion (US$ 97 million) profit this year would be used to cross-subsidise fuel prices, absorbing part of the global price surge, he said. Two STO tankers – a new 24,500-metric-ton vessel bought in January and a 22,000-metric-ton vessel – are keeping fuel in transit, with one arriving within days and another departing on Thursday night. A technical committee is modelling the revenue impact of the war and falling tourism. Zameer said priority dollar spending would go to fuel, staples, medicine, and student allowances abroad. Foreign Minister Khaleel said the Maldives rejected requests to use its airspace for military purposes. The government is diversifying fuel and food suppliers beyond current sources, expanding national food storage capacity, negotiating new airline routes and transit options to replace closed Gulf corridors, and increasing cargo flights.
The Maldives is among neighbouring countries that have requested diesel supplies, the Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman told the press. The Maldives foreign minister declined to confirm the formal request when he was asked at Thursday's press conference. But negotiations with friendly nations are at an advanced stage, he said.
The Blind and Visually Impaired Society, the Maldives Deaf Association, Transparency Maldives, and the Maldives Local Councils' Association spoke to the press, raising alarm over the Elections Commission's failure to make the April 4 poll accessible to voters with disabilities. Deaf voters have received no sign language interpretation in any official election materials, while blind and visually impaired voters face a pre-registration requirement to access ballot templates. As the template is the only way for a person with visual impairment to cast a secret ballot, BVISM President Hussein Shareef said the registration essentially asks voters if they want to use the legal right or not.
The opposition MDP met with the Elections Commission to raise concerns ahead of the April 4 local council elections and public referendum, flagging issues including ballot invalidation procedures, the absence of overseas polling stations, and insufficient public awareness efforts. The EC indicated it would consider the concerns on overseas voting and ballot invalidation, but told the party it was not legally obligated to conduct public awareness on the referendum – a position MDP deputy campaign manager Ali Niyaz said was deeply concerning. MDP also proposed that referendum votes be counted before council election votes on polling night, arguing that counting council ballots first – which would stretch into the early hours – would create conditions for misconduct.
One of 10 suspects arrested over the social media hacking scam in which MVR 279,600 (US$ 18,132) was stolen from a company bank account confessed in court. According to media reports, Abdullah Nafiz admitted to the crime during a remand hearing and said he wanted to repay the stolen money. Three other suspects – Ali Imran, Mohamed Nuhadh Ali, and Abdullah Israq – were also brought before the court but did not confess. All four were remanded for a further 15 days. A fifth suspect, Mohamed Ali, had previously admitted his involvement, telling the court that MVR 25,243 of the stolen funds was deposited into his account. Police have said six of the 10 suspects received scammed funds into their accounts, one used the money to purchase goods from businesses, and three others coordinated ATM withdrawals through intermediaries.
The health ministry contracted MTCC to build a new wing at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital to upgrade it to tertiary care level. Construction is to begin after existing facilities including the operating theatre and CSSD are relocated within the hospital. A company named Laikan was contracted to build an extension at Alif Alif Bodufulhadhoo Health Centre, adding office space, a public health unit, laboratory, meeting hall, laundry, and storage facilities. The health ministry did not disclose the contract values or completion timelines.
The national carrier Maldivian resumed direct flights from Malé to Dhaka.
Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen announced that electric vehicles in the Maldives will soon be issued distinctive green number plates for the first time, making them easily identifiable on the road.
Police recovered MVR 231,000 (US$ 14,980) in stolen cash and arrested 11 suspects in operations across Malé over the past 48 hours, according to police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Shifaan. The recovered funds are linked to theft and robbery cases, including approximately MVR 86,800 in incidents reported to Henveiru and Maafannu police stations on March 9 and 10.
A land reclamation project commenced to expand the island of Veymandoo in Thaa atoll, President Muizzu announced.
