In ‘Hope: Voice Beyond Pessimism’, Abul Osman, a Rohingya refugee shares his feelings, emotions and thoughts about resilience and optimism in the face of the trauma and suffering endured by his community. Living in the world’s largest refugee camp complex in the Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh, Abul’s poetry documents his lived experience and the challenges of maintaining hope and optimism. Abul’s book aims to draw the world’s attention to the crisis that besets the Rohingya and to encourage greater empathy and compassion for Rohingya refugees and for those who remain in Myanmar. Many of these poems address traumatic and distressing experiences in the lives of the Rohingya community, including the pain of exile. Through his evocative poetry, Abul wants readers to get to know the truth of the Rohingyas’ experiences and of the challenges they continue to face. Abul’s poetry aims to fill the heart of readers with a sense of hope that even when life is at its most challenging, it is possible to be resilient and remain optimistic for a brighter future.

Buy copies of ‘Hope: Voice Beyond Pessimism’ by Abul Osman here.

Abul Osman is a young Rohingya poet from Maungdaw township in Myanmar. He is the beloved son of Mr. Md. Muhammad Rofique and Ms. Laila Begum. Since 2017, Abul has lived in the world’s largest refugee camp having been forced to flee his country by genocidal violence committed by Myanmar’s authorities. He is the Management Coordinator of the Rohingya Advancement Committee (RAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting and rebuilding the Rohingya community. Writing poetry brings Abul great solace and happiness, and it was his childhood dream to become a writer. The focus of Abul’s poetry is on subjects like freedom, justice, and rights. ‘Hope: Voice Beyond Pessimism’ is Abul’s first book.

With thanks to Rohim Ullah for the cover photography. You can discover more of Rohim Ullah’s photography here.