MDP Gears Up for Thursday’s ‘Dhathivejje’ Protest

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is preparing for its “Dhathivejje” protest on Thursday, seeking to draw public attention to rising prices and the cost of living.

The protest will begin at 8:30pm outside the Social Centre, with the MDP saying it intends to hold the event along Majeedhee Magu. The party has been putting up banners at various locations in Malé as part of preparations.

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Opposition party MDP said the protest is not an anniversary rally or parade, but an event organised to voice public concerns over the country’s worsening economic situation, including rising prices of goods and the US dollar exchange rate.

އޮގަސްޓް 13 ގައި އޮންނަ “ދަތިވެއްޖެ”
އެމްޑީޕީގެ މުޒާހަރާގެެ ބެނަރ ހަރުކުރުން މާލޭގެ އެކި ސަރަހައްދު ތަކުގައި ކުރިއަށްދަނީ. pic.twitter.com/5eAnrppBIS— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) August 8, 2026

Speaking to the media after meeting with the Maldives Police Service (MPS) regarding the protest, MDP figure Anwar Ibrahim said the party wants to hold the protest on Majeedhee Magu so that its message reaches a wider section of the public.

He said the MDP had previously faced obstruction from police when attempting to hold protests on Majeedhee Magu. While the party has not received a formal response from police regarding Thursday’s protest, it said it had received positive indications.

The MDP has also held smaller events under the Dhathivejje banner, including a pickup meeting in Hulhumalé on Friday and another planned outside the local market in Malé today.

The protest was initially scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, but the party later postponed it to Thursday. The MDP did not disclose a reason for the change.

The party has urged members of the public to join the protest.