c. 1960s – 2022 · Maungdaw, Arakan
Dr. Wakar Uddin was a Rohingya academic and activist from Maungdaw, Arakan, who advocated for the rights of the Rohingya people on the international stage. A professor at Pennsylvania State University, he was the founding chairman of the Burmese Rohingya Association of North America and president of Muslim Aid America, and as Director General of the Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU) he engaged the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Rohingya human rights. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2022.
A Rohingya voice on the international stage
Dr. Wakar Uddin was a prominent Rohingya academic and activist dedicated to advocating for the rights of the Rohingya people on the international stage. Born in Maungdaw, Arakan (Rakhine State), Myanmar, he pursued higher education abroad and established himself as a respected scholar.
He earned a doctorate in the United States and served as a professor at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Uddin was the founding chairman of the Burmese Rohingya Association of North America and president of Muslim Aid America, through which he worked to support Rohingya communities globally.
Dr. Uddin was appointed Director General of the Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU), an organization recognized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as the official representative body of the Rohingya people. In this role, he engaged with international institutions, including the United Nations and OIC, advocating for Rohingya human rights and seeking international intervention against abuses in Myanmar.
Despite his official position, Dr. Uddin faced criticism and opposition from some Rohingya groups. In 2019, multiple Rohingya organizations issued a joint statement calling for reforms in the ARU leadership, expressing concerns that some of his actions and decisions did not fully represent Rohingya interests.
Dr. Wakar Uddin passed away on 29 April 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, while receiving treatment at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. His death was mourned by Rohingya organizations and activists who acknowledged his efforts to promote peace and social harmony in Arakan.
