Former MP Ibrahim Ismail — widely known as Ibra — has announced plans to launch a class action lawsuit against the Bank of Maldives (BML), accusing the country’s largest bank of unfair and coercive practices, including pressuring customers into unfavourable contract changes.
Posting on X, Ibra said he would be filing the case under the Contracts Act and the Consumer Protection Act. He invited members of the public who have experienced similar issues with BML to join the action, requesting interested parties to contact him via direct message.
“I want to keep this as a genuine public action. No funders. No politics. Just consumer protection action directly by members of the public,” Ibra said.
The move comes amid increasing public criticism of BML over its customer service policies and perceived lack of transparency. The bank has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Ibra is a well-known figure in Maldivian politics and civic life. A former member of both the People’s Majlis and the Special Majlis, he chaired the Drafting Committee responsible for finalising the 2008 Constitution. Ibra was also a founding member of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and served as its first elected president before stepping down in 2006.
Legal experts say a class action under Maldivian law would mark a significant step in consumer rights advocacy. Class action lawsuits are uncommon in the Maldives, but legal reforms in recent years have paved the way for collective redress in civil cases.
It is not yet clear how many will join the lawsuit, but Ibra’s profile as a constitutional reformer and long-time rights advocate is expected to generate public interest.