On Sunday evening, former President Mohamed Nasheed stated that the nation’s atolls are being abandoned at an unprecedented pace, and such a pattern does not result in prosperity.

Nasheed, campaigning with former MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail for the party’s new chairperson role, expressed these comments at an MDP camp gathering in Male' City. He mentioned that although there are numerous complaints regarding congestion in the capital, concerns from the islands are also increasing.

Nasheed referenced Th. Kinbidhoo serves as an example, highlighting that the island’s school no longer offers a grade-one class because of insufficient students.

"There won't be a second-grade class next year." Next year, there won’t be a grade three. There won't be a fourth grade the following year. “Ultimately, Kinbidhoo will cease to exist,” he stated.

He mentioned that 65 families from the island had the chance to move to Male', and that these policies were hastening the depopulation of the atolls.

Nasheed stated that consecutive administrations had implemented policies that prompted individuals to relocate nearer to Male', thereby undermining the nation's rural populations. He associated the current administration’s choice to eliminate atoll councils with this larger trend.

“This nation is an island country made up of atolls.” Eliminating the atolls means erasing this Maldives that has been passed down to us from ancient times. “A major transformation is on the horizon for this nation,” Nasheed stated. He stated that eliminating atoll councils would not lead to prosperity for the people.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took office promising changes to the decentralization system, which involved eliminating atoll councils. On November 25 of last year, Parliament approved the constitutional amendment to dissolve the councils.

The amendment indicates that atoll councils will be dissolved once their current term concludes. The President ratified it on December 1 of last year. As the term concludes on the 17th of this month, the current atoll councils will be disbanded.

The MDP opposition has earlier condemned the action, arguing that the alteration would permit the government to select its favored individuals to manage atoll-level administration. The President stated that the money saved from eliminating atoll councils will be allocated to island councils.

Nasheed's worries regarding the decline of atoll populations mirror a wider national pattern. As successive governments have increased centralized social housing initiatives in Male', long-inhabited islands like G.Dh. Rathafandhoo, A.Dh. Kunburudhoo, H.Dh. Hirimaradhoo and H.A. Thakandhoo have experienced considerable population decrease.