1. প্রচ্ছদ
2. সাক্ষাৎকার

 

*Mohammed Arshad Amin: Reclaiming our voice through poetry*

 

Mohammed Arshad Amin is a 22-year-old professional teacher. Faced with racism, he started writing poetry. He is a Rohingya, one of the most persecuted people from Myanmar. The poet has written four poetry books: "Rhythms of The Heart", "No More Refugee Life", "No More Struggle", and "No More Silence" to depict the reality of refugees. His desire for sharing stories is fulfilled as his poetry allows so many unheard stories to travel through time. For him, poetry is a means to reclaim his voice, tell his truth, and keep his people's memories alive. As a refugee, he finds writing to be the perfect tool for survival. Poetry allows him to stay human.

 

His collection of poetry ‘No More’ reaches deep into humanity's soul. It's not only about the loss of homeland and life in refugee camps, but also about perseverance without giving up. Above all, it's a saga of resilience. The poet's voice cannot be silenced, as it knows how to find its way to people's hearts. Mohammad Arshad Amin has sown seeds of hope in the heart of despair within this beautiful poetry book. With calmness, he has woven untold stories from refugee camps, choosing to whisper rather than shout. 

 

Here’s an interview with the young poet:

 

*1. Tell us about your book ‘No More’:*

 

For me, “No More” is more than just a title; it’s a declaration born from pain, resilience, and hope. As a refugee, these two words express everything I’ve lived through and everything I continue to resist. Each book reflects a different layer of the refugee experience. Yet, we all carry the same heart, a call to end the suffering, the injustice, and the invisibility we face. “No More” is my way of saying we’ve had enough. It’s time for dignity. It’s time for truth. Through these words, I hope to amplify the voices of the voiceless and make the world stop, listen, and remember. We are also human, just like you.

 

*2. What does it mean to be a Rohingya?*

 

Being Rohingya means I was born into statelessness, into a life where my identity was treated like a crime. I didn’t choose this life, but I carry its weight every day. In Myanmar, we were stripped of our citizenship, denied basic rights, and treated as if we didn’t exist. My childhood was filled with fear: the fear of being arrested, the fear of losing my family, the fear of simply being Rohingya. We couldn’t go to school freely. We were not allowed to travel or speak openly. And when the violence came, we lost everything: our homes, our neighbors, our sense of belonging.

 

*3. Describe your survival.*

 

I survived. But survival came with scars, some visible, most buried deep. As a refugee, I now live far from my homeland, but the pain of being uprooted never leaves. That’s why I write. I want to remember and resist. I make sure that our truth is never erased. Life as a refugee is a constant struggle between hope and helplessness. It feels like living in limbo, where you survive but don’t really live.

 

*4. What does writing mean to you?*

 

I write to survive, to heal, and to be heard. Writing is my way of reclaiming a voice that the world tried to silence. But it’s not just about me; I write for my people, for those who continue to suffer in silence. As a Rohingya, I belong to a community that has been stripped of its voice and dignity. Through poetry, I try to speak not only of my pain but of our collective truth, to tell the world we exist, we matter, and our stories deserve to be heard. As a refugee, my book ‘No More’ is my message to the world. It’s a plea, a protest, and a truth. Each poem speaks to the pain, the resilience, and the forgotten voices of my people. It calls on the world to see us, hear us, and stand with us, not out of pity but out of justice. ‘No More’ is not just a book of poetry; it’s a voice for the voiceless and a reminder that silence helps no one.

 

*5. Give us your message on peace:*

 

Peace means more than the absence of war. It means having freedom, dignity, and a place to belong. Peace is the right to live without fear and the hope of returning home. My message of peace to the world is simple. Peace is the foundation of our shared humanity. It is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, respect, and understanding. As a refugee, I have seen how violence and hatred tear families and communities apart. I dream of a world where no one is forced to flee their home, where every person can live with dignity and hope. Let us choose compassion over fear, dialogue over silence, and unity over division. Together, we can build a future where peace is not just a wish but a reality for all.

 

*Interviewer: Shah Jehan Ashrafi*

*Collected from the interviewer by Md Ejaj Ahamed*