Thulhaadhoo (Dhivehi: ތުޅާދޫ) is the second highest populated inhabited island of Baa Atoll.

Thulhaadhoo
Aerial view of Thulhaadhoo
Aerial view of Thulhaadhoo
Thulhaadhoo is located in Maldives
Thulhaadhoo
Thulhaadhoo
Location in Maldives
Coordinates: 5°1′23″N 72°50′23″E / 5.02306°N 72.83972°E / 5.02306; 72.83972
CountryMaldives
Administrative atollBaa Atoll
Distance to Malé119.59 km (74.31 mi)
Area
 • Total40 ha (100 acres)
Dimensions
 • Length0.380 km (0.236 mi)
 • Width0.230 km (0.143 mi)
Population
 (2019)[1]
 • Total2,999
 • Density7,500/km2 (19,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (MST)
Postal code
06090

History edit

 
Old Malaafaiy wooden food cover with Arabic inscription. From Thulhadhoo, kept at the National Museum, Maldives

The island has been reclaimed by the government recently. The island is famous for its lacquer work. It used to supply the noble families in the country with lacquered items, but now most of Thulhaadhoo's lacquer work is sold to tourists as souvenirs.[2]

Geography edit

The island is 119.59 km (74 mi; 65 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.[3]

Demography edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
2006 1,759—    
2014 1,412−19.7%
2006-2014: Census populations
Source: [4]

Governance edit

Thulhaadhoo Council edit

 
Current members of Thulhaadhoo Council taking oath

The island is administered by a council of five members. The main objectives of this council are to make sure the well being of the island's citizens and to provide the basic needs of the people. The council is seen very active in the development of the island, although critics[who?] have risen against it.

Umaira Aboobakr, who is the only Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) member in the council, which holds the majority of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) with its four members, is faced with major difficulties working with the council. The disputes within the council reached its peak, when the four MDP members took a vote in the middle of 2011 to sack Umaira claiming that "she had not attended seven council meetings in a row."[5] A by-election was announced by the Elections Commission [6] of the Maldives but, later that year, The Maldivian High-Court cancelled the election and said that "the announcement on 5 October 2011 by Elections Commission for by-elections of B. Thulhaadhoo to be held on 19 November 2011, was made without fulfilling the requirements previously ordered by the High Court".[7][8]

Currently, Thulhaadhoo council has 7 councillors, including the council president, 3 Male councillors among which one is the vice president and 3 female councillors. The president and one of the female councillors were independent candidates whereas the other 5 councillors are from Maldivian Democractic Party

Education edit

The island has one school headed by principal Ahmed Abdulla. In the year 2019 Ahmed Abdulla resigned from the post due to health issues. Ibrahim Rasheed is the current principal of Thulhaadhoo school. There are two pre schools in Thulhaadhoo, 2 of which is own by a private organisation.[9]

Healthcare edit

Thulhaadhoo's Health Centre became famous when Dr. Muhammad Owais Aziz recorded the first case of swine flu in Maldives.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "Isles - Thulhaadhoo". Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  2. ^ Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom.
  3. ^ "Coordinate Distance Calculator". Boulter.com. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Table 3.3: Total Maldivian Population by Islands" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Thulhaadhoo Council bi-elections announced amid dispute", Haveeru Daily Online News
  6. ^ The Elections Commission
  7. ^ "High Court cancels By-election for Thulhaadhoo Council", Sun Online
  8. ^ Court Declaration
  9. ^ Masters, Tom (2006). Maldives. Lonely Planet. p. 204. ISBN 1-74059-977-2.
  10. ^ https://dxnews.com/8q7sn-baa-atoll-maldives/