# Fazal Ahmed (Born 1941)

> Lawyer and former member-elect of parliament · Maungdaw, Arakan

- Known for: Lawyer and former member-elect of parliament
- Born: 1941
- Place: Maungdaw, Arakan
- Fields: Law, Politics
- Page: https://people.rohingya.ro/people/fazal-ahmed/

## Summary

A Rohingya lawyer and politician from Maungdaw, Arakan, who was elected for the Maungdaw-2 constituency in the 1990 general election as a central leader of the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR), one of only four Rohingya MPs to win seats. A Higher Grade Pleader, he gave legal support to Rohingya facing discrimination and denial of citizenship, and called for their recognition as an ethnic group of Myanmar. After the NDPHR was banned in 1992 he was arrested, tortured and sentenced to five years in prison.

## What he did

- **1941** — Born.
- **Career** — Served in government offices, then qualified as a Higher Grade Pleader (HGP) and practised law in Maungdaw, giving legal support to Rohingya citizens facing discrimination and the denial of citizenship.
- **1990** — As a senior member and central leader of the NDPHR, elected MP for the Maungdaw-2 constituency, one of only four Rohingya MPs to win seats.
- **MP-elect** — Worked for the recognition of the Rohingya as an ethnic group of Myanmar, demanded the restoration of their citizenship rights, and advocated peaceful coexistence between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims.
- **1992** — After the NDPHR was banned, he was arrested, tortured and sentenced to five years in prison.

## Biography: A symbol of lawful resistance

Fazal Ahmed is a prominent Rohingya lawyer and former politician from Maungdaw, Arakan. As a senior member and central leader of the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR), he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP-elect) for the Maungdaw-2 constituency in the 1990 general election, becoming one of only four Rohingya MPs to win seats.

Ahmed devoted his professional life to pursuing equality and justice, serving in government offices before qualifying as a Higher Grade Pleader (HGP) and practicing law in Maungdaw. He provided legal support to Rohingya citizens facing discrimination and citizenship denials. As a parliamentarian-elect, he worked to promote the recognition of the Rohingya as an ethnic group of Myanmar and demanded the restoration of their citizenship rights. He advocated for peaceful coexistence between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims.

After the NDPHR was banned in 1992, Fazal Ahmed was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to five years in prison, part of a broader campaign to silence Rohingya democratic representation. He remains a symbol of lawful resistance.

## Sources

- Rohingyas reject the NVC process in Maungdaw - Kaladan Press Network
- Arakan: News and Analysis of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation, September 2009
- 1990 Multi-Party Democracy General Elections and The Rohingyas' Enfranchisement - The Stateless Rohingya
- Impact International, 1991
- Transnational Institute – Arakan (Rakhine State), Martin Smith, December 2019.

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From Rohingya Famous People, https://people.rohingya.ro/people/fazal-ahmed/ (updated 2026-11-03)