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One day I will leave this city
-Anisul Hoque

One day I will leave this city.

And where shall I go but to Rangpur.

The town of Rangpur.

That’s where my Mother lives.

And even if I have no job, not a penny in my pocket, she will say:

Have your lunch. Have you taken a shower today? and I will say :

It’s raining. I will not take a bath today.

Mother will serve the table.

From the kitchen

she will run across the yard

and throw her Sari over the dish to save our food from the rain.

on the branches of the tree

on the roof of corrugated steel

it will rain and rain and rain.

Her Sari will be wet.

But the rice will be dry.

As I eat my mother will stare at my mouth

watching my eating.

My mouth will move

the rice will go down my throat

and land in her stomach.

She will murmur : Wipe the plate.

I used to wipe the plate into your mouth.

That’s why you have grown so well.

She will be standing beside me, holding a glass full of water, just in case
I ask for water after chewing the rice in my mouth.

And if I come back to Dhaka

without drinking that water, she will
remain standing

remain standing

as though she were Bayazid Bostami, the Sufi, who held the glass of water all
night beside his sleeping mother.

(translated by Sara Deniz Akant )

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Better year 2021

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We hope to see end of our lockdown and we wish to have fresh air, fresh mind and rethink ours self better for our would. Thank you, Ian Iqbal | 24asia

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Wish you all Happy New Year 2021,

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A poem for my migrant friends whom I haven’t seen in a while :-)

- Amanda Low

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Stay strong, stay positive.. I hope everything will be OK as soon as possible.. I miss my sons, family and home

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i hope to see my friends soon, i want to give them a hug.
we will walk togather, we eat, we laugh, we walk and create some memories.

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December is the month of Victory in Bangladesh.
we celebrated 16th december, the victory day with our Local friends in back 2018. we ate togather, had fun, play games, shares experiences and make friends.

im so happy for that..

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This year millions of migrant brothers around the world are celebrating Eid in amid of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we dedicated our Eid wishes to them! Thank you, 24asia

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We know COVID taught us many things and we have collaborated with many agencies, NGO’s & groups which we wish to continue and see more. We also wish 2021 would be better for all of us to take care each other, to add values and share our culture.  Thank you, Nazmul | 24asia

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The month of victory is December. We have been feeling the victory in our life since that childhood. When I was in school, I had represented the school on the Victory day parade on 16th of December. Then finished school and college life and now got expat life. After Live in Singapore, my name became Bangladeshi expatriate.

We have a little emotion and feelings about expatriates, but how much we know about the life of a expatriate! I left my motherland for almost three years to work hard and succeed. The life of an expatriate is not easy in this skyscraper city. At the end of the week and month, to get rid of the fatigue of the work, I run away to find a fellow countrymen . Then, we enjoy the time and return home with some meaningful  memories. And the next day I've to start working for myself again. In the mean time I have always wanted to do something for "Bangladesh". And now I am trying to do something for my Bangladeshi brothers over here. I could say with great hope that, "helping one of the native brothers feels very proud to me" . I thought, I'm doing something for my country from 2900 kilometres away.

My mother! My motherland !!
the answer is unknown, that how long I have to live with the hardships of leaving homeland Bangladesh. Bangladesh is always in my chest even when I'm out of the country. Now i clearly understand, 'My golden Bangla, I love you' is the Sweetest line.

-Tas

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Syakirin and his Stay Home Quilt Project!

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Syakirin and his Stay Home Quilt Project!

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DREAMS ARRIVED FT MASIA ONE | EARTH'S CRY ( PRITHIBIR KANNA) | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

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DREAMS ARRIVED FT MASIA ONE | EARTH'S CRY ( PRITHIBIR KANNA) | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

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Earth's cry (Prithibir kanna) is a collaboration song between DREAMS ARRIVED band (a Bangladeshi migrants rock band in singapore) and Singaporean great rapper MASIA ONE. This song made for a collaboration show called Embrace, directed by Rose.

our lineup
Rahad- Leader, Vocal and Guitarist
Sohel - Drummer
Farhan - Guitarist
Sabbir - Bassist
Nepi - Vocal
--
Find more music by "Dreams Arrived" at: https://www.facebook.com/dreamsarrived2019

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DREAMS ARRIVED FT MASIA ONE | EARTH'S CRY ( PRITHIBIR KANNA) | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

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Lyrics, melody and vocal : Md Aktaruzzaman

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THIS IS FOR YOU, YOU SHOULD START TO LISTEN
NOT JUST TO MY WORDS BUT TO THE CRY OF THE HIDDEN.
TO REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS,
THAT WAS FORBIDDEN OF OUR RIGHTS, TREATED US LIKE NOTHING.

I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL CAME HERE WITH ONE GOAL
TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES, HELP THEM WHEN THEY CALL.
BUT HERE’S A STORY OF ONE MIGRANT HERE
WAITING TO BE HEARD, HER EYES ALWAYS IN TEARS.

I APPLIED FOR A JOB, WITH FULL OF HOPE AND CONFIDENCE
NEVER KNOWING THAT MY DECISION WOULD COST MY INDEPENDENCE
THEY HAVE A NICE HOUSE, AND NICE PEOPLE THAT I CAN SEE
BUT SOMETIMES, I KNOW SOMEBODY IS WATCHING ME.

WITH CAMERAS AROUND THE HOUSE, EVERY MOVE IS SEEN
EVEN IN MY ROOM; TO CHANGE CLOTHES, I’M NOT AT ALL KEEN
MY REST DAY IS FORBIDDEN
WHEN I MAKE A MISTAKE, I AM NOT FORGIVEN.

SOMETIMES, A PUNCH AT MY BACK, OR A SLAP ON MY FACE
WHEN I CRY, THEY SHOUT AT ME SO LOUD, IT WILL BREAK THE VASE.
WHEN I’M SICK, THERE IS NO SICK LEAVE
NO MATTER HOW BAD I FEEL, THEY WON’T EVEN BELIEVE.

FOOD FOR ME IS LIMITED.
TALKING TO OTHERS IS PROHIBITED
A CELL PHONE IS NOT ALLOWED
WHEN I GET CAUGHT, THEY WILL SHAME ME TO THE CROWD.

BUT STILL, I WORK WITH DETERMINATION,
WITH MY FAMILY AS MY INSPIRATION.
I TRIED NOT TO COMPLAIN TO AVOID TERMINATION
BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DO, MY FATE IS STILL  AT MY EMPLOYER’S DECISION.

I KNOW NOT EVERY DOMESTIC WORKER IS LIKE ME.
SOME EMPLOYERS MIGHT BE GOOD AS CAN BE.
BUT I’M ONE OF THE HIDDEN THAT YOU CAN’T SEE OR HEAR
ALL I NEED IS YOUR HELP. PLEASE GET ME OUT OF HERE.

-- CRY OF THE HIDDEN, by Bhing Navato

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Spoken Word Poetry and Video by Amy

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He stands on the balcony
His arms slam on the railing
A white shirt hangs on his shoulder
His eyes look into nowhere

He checks his phone - with a frown
He must be thinking of many things

Like his wife who'd just given birth
Or his young son finishing school
Or his daughter he hasn't speak to
Or his mother he hasn't seen
Or his lovely wrinkly father
Whom he misses most of all

Work has been halted
He can't afford to make a call

Maybe he misses his friends
Or to eat his favorite food
Or shop at his favorite shop
Or maybe he just wants a chat

For when I go out and be of help
I will be in trouble with the law
I could only give him a virtual hug
From a distance by my window

It can only be temporary
This time he feels alone
The homesickness he shares with many
Will surely be over soon

LOCKDOWN, by Ellen Lavilla

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I can see the fear in your eyes,
like a child
searching for a refuge.
A home-
where you can feel
you are safe,
and no one
can hurt you.
A home-
that could give you
support and comfort
from the turbulence of journey
you've been struggling to surpass.
But no matter how hard you try,
the thousand forces
keeps coming and banging
at your door without inhibitions!
They're chasing away all your dreams
crushing every hope,
bringing down every banner of faith,
until, they're satisfied
seeing you on the ground,
defeated.
But no one on earth made a rule
that you can't crawl nor rise
after a fall unless
you've chosen not too.
Stand up!
Don't make the ground
your home when you can do
something for your own.
That is not your place!
It is  where loser
kisses the dust of surrender,
embraces the coldness of defeat.
You are not one of them!
Rise like a soldier
wounded from a battle
but the desire to live
Is stronger than the bullet
passing over his head.
Don't die without a fight
nor pull the trigger on your own!
Chances keep calling
and life is worth fighting
even if it means ,
you need to bleed again and again.
For every wound
will turn to a scar that will
show the world
how courageous you are.
Seize the running thought
that weakens the defense
Hold to the remaining strength,
recognize the call from within
begging you to fight
and let "giving up"
get out of your sight!

Written by: Janelyn Dupingay Vergara
Foreign Domestic Helper in Singapore

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Tomake Chai by Ameera Joti and Shohel Rana

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Tomake Chai by Ameera Joti and Shohel Rana

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Ameera Joti is from Indonesia and can speak (and sing!) in Bengali very well.
Find more of her singing on her YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGVC76Y1gJvcj86iHcALeUw

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BERITA Mediacorp: DETIK Episod 30: Warga M'sia hidup gelandangan di S'pura? (Malaysians living as homeless people in Singapore?)

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BERITA Mediacorp: DETIK Episod 30: Warga M'sia hidup gelandangan di S'pura? (Malaysians living as homeless people in Singapore?)

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"In this video I explained  my feelings about staying in Singapore without my family for almost 1 year. Far from family, most of us only contact them via video call. Most of us resign and go home, since we cannot bear to stay here. We cannot afford to pay monthly rent for a room and the cost of living here is very high. However, there was one NGO that always give us food." - Syakirin, Speaker representing the Malaysian worker community in 2020 Reflections: Voices Of Our Migrants

Join our 2020 Reflections: Voices Of Our Migrants event: https://bit.ly/voom2020

NGO: Ghifari Event Management (https://www.facebook.com/Ghifari-Event-Management-128832807502627/)

Link to Video: https://fb.watch/2lB_IhMgRR/

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BERITA Mediacorp - Berita Terkini, Melayu, Muslim, Islam, Singapura, Dunia.

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"Kalau ada gelandangan pun, tidak sampai hati kami biarkan begitu. Kami akan berusaha membantu."

Relawan Amal Ghifari yang mengagihkan makanan kepada pekerja asing setiap hari, memberi respons terhadap dakwaan terdapat pekerja M'sia hidup gelandangan di S'pura baru-baru ini.

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DETIK Episod 30: Warga M'sia hidup gelandangan di S'pura? - BERITA MediaCorp

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"Kalau ada gelandangan pun, tidak sampai hati kami biarkan begitu. Kami akan berusaha membantu." Relawan Amal Ghifari yang mengagihkan makanan kepada pekerja asing setiap hari, memberi respons terhadap dakwaan terdapat pekerja M'sia hidup gelandangan di S'pura baru-baru ini.

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Spoken Word Poetry and Video by Belal Hassan

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Here
On the corner of this lake
Here we always sit
Here we spend our time
Here on this road
On this road
We walked to part to the garden of the heart
Your joke
Your laughter
Your babbling
Still lingering in memory
Your voice can still be heard clearly in the ear
It feels like yesterday you were with me
Your smell is still stick on my body
But I realize you have disappeared
You are not with me
I cry
I sob
Without your love I can not breathe
Without your love my life feels empty
Do not leave me alone
Come back
Come back to the path to the garden of my heart
Fill out of my life same before we have together

-- Don't Let Me Be Alone, by Amy, Speaker representing the domestic helper community in 2020 Reflections: Voices Of Our Migrants

Join our 2020 Reflections: Voices Of Our Migrants event: https://bit.ly/voom2020
_____________________________________
“I was sitting alone, thinking of someone I love.

A few months ago we were both joking and laughing, but now I'm alone without him (my husband).

I hope I won’t be alone like this.”

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Imagine - John Lennon /acoustic cover by farhan reza 

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Imagine - John Lennon /acoustic cover by farhan reza 

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Farhan Reza is from "Dreams Arrived", a rock band formed by a few music-loving Bangladeshi migrants based in Singapore.

Follow "Dreams Arrived" at: https://www.facebook.com/dreamsarrived2019

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The longing of calmness, just like a dark blue sky.
A resting seashell, in a white beach sand.
The rhythm of silence was there. While the cottony cloud speeded into the sky.
And it never ends in someone's eyes.
Beside it; is a gifted forest, full of melody.
So refreshing!
With the briskness of the chillin Windstream.
A glimpse of that stunning wonder,
Inside the majestic world of birds and trees.
The wheel of the wind into an open ground whizzing sound of a buzz, vanishing into thin air
While the dripping rainforest, Made the breathing orchard  unthirsty.
The blue water splashes into the ground.
The cast of the ocean is endless, full of love, and compassion.
Seaman's crossing the sea, to meet the shore.
How lovely the shallow water,
Stretching on to the white sand.   Gave me a smile, made me realize.
God bestowed us, a paradise.
We can enjoy it for a lifetime.
The beauty of a living thing before thy eyes.
We should keep for the future of new life.

-- Lockdowns thought, by Arcelyn

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"If Good Days Come Again" (Pandemic Poem) by Belal Hassan

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"If Good Days Come Again" (Pandemic Poem) by Belal Hassan

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When the bad days will go
I'll pour fists of sunshine at your window
And colours from the butterfly
Will be sent through the air.
Everybody will wear  bangles of love
Around their wrists.
I'll renew the affair as we meet again after a long time.

When the time will be good again
I'll mingle into the footpaths' crowd
And through that,
I'll find out the smell of humanity easily.
On the air of autumn,
Under the leaves of flame tree
I'll write some poems of bad time.

Then I'll sit beside the street child
Touching the roses in his hands.
Staring at the uncared cheeks,
Will inform that there is no difference
As the eagerness of colour
Is the same as wanting to survive.

If the good days come back again
I'll recall these bad days' helplessness
If happiness be full into my fist
The half of the happiness will remain for me
And the rest half of the happiness will be for you.

-- If Good Days Come Again, by Belal Hassan

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When I lost you
I walk without any distance
When I lost you
I walk like fly

When I lost you
My eyes can't see anything
You was gone
Disappear
Without notice
You left me
Nothing to said
Gone
Empty
Blank
No shadow
No smell
Just pain
Just tears
Now on me
I went there to many places
Where we are spend our time
But was you no there
Disappear
Gone
Can't see you any where
Again only tears
Tears with me
Pain
Was you all right
Was you sad of me
same with what I feel
Gone
Lost you is too painful

-- WHEN I LOST YOU, by Amy, Speaker representing the domestic helper community in 2020 Reflections: Voices Of Our Migrants

Join our 2020 Reflections: Voices Of Our Migrants event: https://bit.ly/voom2020

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A poem I composed dedicated for my fellow Migrants.
---
This is not my country, a migrant is what I am called.
Working from wee hours, I will do what I was told.
Sometimes you forgot, I am a human not a machine
Endless work you give me, to rest, I cannot be seen.

I am here, but you don't feel my presence.
If am not around, you know my absence
My voice is loud enough, but your ears are blocked
To listen to my woes, in your heart, I have to knock.

Your eyes constantly looking at me.
Every move is followed, wherever I will be.
Pretentious in every ways, to cover your intention.
You know I am fully aware, just ask me a question.

Perception you had in me, will change in a wink.
Understanding my life, will give you time to think.
Assumptions you had will be proven a mistake.
Better relationship is what we have to make.

I am a migrant worker who helps to build your country.
I am a migrant worker who to takes care of your family.
Can you treat me as a friend, not a foe, not a threat
Effortless smile you show, that I will never forget.

-- Me..A Migrant, by Bhing Navato

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I walk through this path everyday.

I see you smiling, continue working.

Heat is scorching, sweat is dripping.

Despite of hardships in the alley,

I can see your happiness exactly.

With shovel in your hands,

You looked at me with admiration.

I glanced at you in frustration.

Through the strands of my hair

I hide my emotions.

To those eyes that stares with discrimination.

I call you my beau,

I’m your plain Jane Doe.

Our love exists on the road.

When you saw that trolley with a heavy load.

Reached out to help, you left me amazed.

Fast as your wink you put me in dazed

Hearts unite on rest days

Waited for weekends to meet by the bay

Exhausted body still finds a way.

A rendevouz takes place

To have our own space.

Sunday night, we are  back on our cave.

Where tomorrow we are their slave.

Forget the fantasy, back to reality

With shovel in your hands, you smile at me.

As I pass by pulling my trolley.

-- Shovel and Trolley, by Bhing Navato