Businessman Mohamed ‘OK’ Zahir dies aged 75

Prominent Maldivian businessman Mohamed ‘OK’ Zahir has died at the age of 75.

He died in neighboring Sri Lanka, where he had been residing, on Saturday morning.

Zahir was known as a skilled business known to engage in new trades and introduce new locally made products to the market.

The news of his death has flooded social media with messages of condolences.

In a post on X on Saturday morning, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said he was saddened by Zahir’s death and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

He noted that Zahir had run factories in Maldives and promoted locally made products in the market.

اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّااِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ

ރާއްޖޭގައި ކާރުޚާނާ ހިންގަވައި، ޤައުމުގެ އަމިއްލަ އުފެއްދުންތައް ބާޒާރަށް ނެރުއްވުމަށް ގިނަ މަސައްކަތްތަކެއް ކުރައްވައި، އިޤްތިޞާދުކުރިއެރުވުމުގެ ރޮނގުން ޤައުމީ އިނާމު ޙާޞިލްކުރައްވާފައިވާ ވިޔަފާރިވެރިޔާ މުޙައްމަދު ޒާހިރު (އޯކޭ ޒާހިރު)… pic.twitter.com/1ZNXb5joQX

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) August 17, 2024

He had received the National Award of Honor for his contributions to the development of the Maldivian economy.

Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also conveyed his condolences to Zahir’s family.

He hailed Zahir for the sacrifices and contributions he made in the struggle to bring political reforms to the Maldives.

ރާއްޖޭގައި ސިޔާސީ އިޞްލާޙީ މަސައްކަތުގައި ގިނަ ޤުރުބާނީތަކެއް ވެވަޑައިގެން އަދި ގިނަ ޚިދުމަތްތަކެއް ކޮށްދެއްވި މުހައްމަދު ޒާހިރު (އޯކޭ ޒާހިރު) އަވަހާރަވުމާގުޅިގެން
ޢާއިލާއަށް އަޅުގަނޑުގެ އިޚުލާޞްތެރި ތަޢުޒިޔާ ދަންނަވަން. މާތް الله މަރުހޫމުގެ ފުރާނައަށް ހެޔޮ ރަޙުމަތްލައްވައި…

— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) August 17, 2024

Zahir was one of the founding members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). He served as the party’s president for the L. Fonadhoo constituency in 2012.

MDP’s leader Abdulla Shahid said he received news of Zahir’s death with deep sadness.

“Zahir was a key contributor to the reform works. He did sincere hard work for the MDP and served as a member of the party’s national council.  He was an innovative businessman,” wrote the former foreign minister in a post on X.

މުޙަންމަދު ޒާހިރު (އޯކޭ ޒާހިރު) އަވަހާރަވި ޚަބަރު އެހީ ފުން ހިތާމަ އާއި އެކު. ޒާހިރަކީ އިސްލާޙީ މަސައްކަތުގެ ވަރަށްބޮޑު ބައިވެރިއެއް. އެމް.ޑީ.ޕީ އަށް އިޚްލާޞްތެރި ބުރަ މަސައްކަތްތަކެއް ކޮށްދެއްވި ޕާރޓީގެ ޤައުމީ މަޖިލީހުގެ މެންބަރުކަންކުރެއްވި ބޭފުޅެއް. އިޖާދީ ވިޔަފާރިވެރިއެއް.… pic.twitter.com/5xLVJvMMgH

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) August 17, 2024

Back during the first MDP administration – led by former President Mohamed Nasheed – Zahir also served as the chairperson of the Thilafushi Corporation.

Zahir had been repeatedly arrested in the 2000s, during the struggle to introduce democracy to the Maldives, and in the political turmoil that followed the fall of the first MDP administration. 

He later moved to Sri Lanka.