Daud Ahmed Zilal

Daud Ahmed Zilal (also spelled Daud Ahmed Zalil) is a Maldivian civil servant and youth leader who was served as the inaugural President (chairperson) of the Presidential Youth Advisory Board of the Maldives and as an Undersecretary at the President's Office. He became a prominent public figure in 2024 with the establishment of the youth advisory body, but his career later became the focus of national controversy.

Controversies and Resignation

Zalil's tenure as Chair of the Youth Advisory Board was overshadowed by controversy tied to the April 2025 incident involving the fall of 21-year-old Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed in Malé, which drew widespread public attention and debate over political influence and accountability. Several board members resigned in protest over perceived mishandling of the case.

In April 2025, Zalil was suspended as Chair of the Presidential Youth Advisory Board. Government announcements noted his resignation and suspension from his Undersecretary role at the President's Office.

A Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry established to investigate the Yumnu Rasheed incident later concluded that Zalil provided false statements about his brother Raudh Ahmed Zilal during the official inquiry, citing inconsistencies between his testimony and phone records as well as other evidence. In June 2025, he was dismissed from his government position following the commission's findings.

Zilal's brother, Raudh Ahmed Zilal, was later sentenced to 27 days imprisonment by a criminal court for failing to provide assistance to a person in need without reasonable cause.