[2][3] Ahmed was born October 30, 1926, in Paril village (renamed 'Rafiqnagar'[2]), Singair, Manikganj District, East Bengal, British Raj.

He moved to Dhaka and started working in a printing press owned by his father.

Ahmed was active in the student protest demanding Bengali be made the national language of Pakistan on 21 February 1952 despite Section 144(curfew) at Dhaka University.

[5] When police opened fire at the demonstration in front of Dhaka Medical College premises, Rafiq was shot in the head and died immediately.

[2] The museum in memoriam of Rafiq was erected as a testament to the patriotism and courage he displayed being a martyr of the movement.