Words and photos by Anuwar Sadek

Amir Hussain, a 65-year-old Rohingya refugee, currently resides in Cox’s Bazar Refugee Camp, Bangladesh. In 2017, he and his family were forced to flee their homeland, Myanmar, due to the brutal military operations that targeted the Rohingya community. Leaving behind everything they had ever known, they sought refuge in Bangladesh. Today, Amir is a father of seven children, five of whom are married and living separately. His refugee data card lists four members, including his wife.

This photo was taken during Amir trying to produce music

A Life of Hardship and Leadership in Myanmar

Back in his native village of Naari Bil, located in northern Maungdaw, Arakan State, Amir came from a humble and poor background. To support his family, he cut firewood from the hills and sold it while also fishing to provide food for his loved ones. Life was difficult, but he worked tirelessly to ensure his family never went hungry.

At the age of 45, Amir was appointed as the head leader of 100 households under the village administrator. Though he received no salary for this role, the villagers supported him with small contributions of rice or money. Despite financial struggles, his leadership earned him respect within the community. The people followed his guidance, and he took pride in serving them.

A Passion for Music and Lost Melodies

” As a young man, I had a deep passion for music and singing. Although musical instruments were scarce in my village, I and my friends found creative ways to make our own. We would gather near the paddy fields, using plastic containers, steel bowls, bottles, and spoons to create rhythmic beats.” Amir said

The music brought them together, filling their evenings with laughter and joy.

Years later, after enduring the hardships of displacement, Amir’s love for music resurfaced. A strong desire to relive his childhood memories led him to a new mission—borrowing a mandolin from one of his neighbors and played it to produce different kinds of music. Truly, he works in the host community and seeking an opportunity to harvest paddy to support his family at this old age.


Now, Amir finds comfort in the melodies of his past. The music brings him immense joy, allowing him to reconnect with the happiness of his youth. In the midst of uncertainty and struggle, this home-made mandolin has become a symbol of resilience, proving that even in the hardest times, the spirit of creativity and passion can never be lost.

#Memory #Arakan #Childhood #Rohingya #Struggle #Financialcrisis #Mandolin #Music #TraditionalSongs