Azan Zuhair, a board member of Addu International Airport, resigned from his post today following the dismissal of his father, Ahmed Zuhair, from his position as Director of the Maldives Transportation Safety Board.
Zuhair was reportedly removed from his post after a photograph surfaced of him with Abdulla Sodiq (Sobe), the newly elected MP for the Hithadhoo North constituency. Zuhair and Sodiq are relatives.
Azan, who served as the Chairperson of the airport’s Board of Directors, announced his resignation in a post on X. He said that his decision to step down was prompted by the government’s decision to terminate his father’s employment over a political matter.
" I cannot continue to represent a government that acts this way. I have therefore submitted my resignation as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Addu International Airport," he wrote.
Zuhair, who previously served as a State Minister at the Ministry of Transport during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration, was appointed to the Director post following a competitive public recruitment process. However, the position he held was abruptly dissolved.
Zuhair confirmed the development but declined to provide further details.
A source close to Zuhair informed Adhadhu that the position was dissolved because of the photograph with Sodiq.
"The photo was taken during a campaign event in Male'. Sodiq is married to Zuhair’s sister," the source said.
"Since there were no legal grounds to dismiss him from his job, the government decided to dissolve the entire position he occupied."
Zuhair is an expert in the aviation industry, with a career dating back to the era of Air Maldives. He previously served as the Managing Director and a board member of Island Aviation during President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.
The Maldives Transportation Safety Board was established by President Mohamed Muizzu on April 8 this year, under the powers vested in him by Article 116 of the Constitution. The agency operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
The primary objective of the board is to independently investigate accidents and incidents occurring across land, sea, and civil aviation sectors to enhance transportation safety. Its responsibilities include identifying the root causes of accidents, providing technical recommendations to relevant authorities, and conducting safety research within the sector.
