Poets - 2014 | migrantworkerpoetry

Asit Kumar Bangali

Asit, 33, was born in Barishal, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2009 and works in the construction sector. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences.

Asit writes poems, novels, short stories and also plays tabla, a musical instrument. He has been writing poems since 2000. He has also written a novel that was published in Bangladesh. Asit has acted in over 20 Bengali plays in Bangladesh as well as Singapore. Asit likes to always keep a paper and pen in his pocket so that he can write poems whenever he has an idea. His favourite poets are Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam.

About the Poets - 2014

Shromik Monir Ahmod

Monir, 27, was born in Shariatpur, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2010 and works in the construction sector.

Monir writes under the pseudonym ‘Shromik’ or ‘Worker’ and considers himself a rebel poet. He also writes short stories and non-fiction. Monir has been writing poems since 2008 and has won awards for his poetry in competitions organized by literary groups in Bangladesh. Monir is always thinking about what to write and uses his time during the commute to work and during coffee breaks to write poetry using his mobile phone. His favourite poets are Kazi Nazrul Islam and Sukanto.

Md Jahangir Alam (Babu)

Babu, 41, was born in Noakhali, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2008 and works in the construction sector as a Project Engineer.

Babu is a polymath who writes poems, short stories, features (non-fiction) and also writes and directs plays. His writings typically deal with labour issues and political affairs in Bangladesh and he also likes to showcase positive aspects of Singapore and their relevance for Bangladesh. Babu is the President of the Banglar Kontho Sahitya Parishad, a literary grouping for Bangladeshi migrant workers in Singapore and has played a key role in promoting literature and the arts among this community. Babu’s favourite poets are Kazi Nazrul Islam and Shamsur Rahman.

2010 - present

Md Masud Pervez (Apu)

Apu, 28, came to Singapore in 2007 and works in the construction sector as a Safety Supervisor.

Apu is a poet, songwriter and composer. An accomplished singer, he likes to sing folk as well as modern songs. He writes romantic songs, patriotic songs as well as songs dealing with everyday work life. Well known singers in Bangladesh such as Lutfur Hassan have sung songs composed and written by him and he has also won several song writing contests in Bangladesh. His favourite songwriter is Isteack Ahmed.

2010 - present

Md Mukul Hussain

Mukul, 24, was born in Patgram, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2008 and works in the construction sector. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences.

Mukul writes poems, novels, and short stories. He likes to write poems in memory of his mother back home. His novel ‘Buker Simanaye Sukh’(Happiness at heart’s edge) and his poetry collection ‘Apurna Vasana’ (Unfulfilled desire) have been published in Bangladesh. His works have also featured in four other published books. Mukul has often spent entire nights writing poetry. His favourite poet is Rabindranath Tagore.

Rajib Shil Jibon

Rajib, 28, was born in Chittagong, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2013 and works in a shipyard. He has a Diploma in Automobile technology.

Rajib writes poems and short stories. His poetry collection ‘Adhora’ (Unrestrained) has been published in Bangladesh. One of his poems, ‘Life of a dustbin’, has won awards in Bangladesh. He likes to write poetry on every theme, from romantic, patriotic to day to day life as a worker in Singapore.

Md Jahangir Islam

Jahangir, 34, was born in Koumilla, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2007 and works in the construction sector.

Jahangir writes poems on topics related to public welfare, student’s role in society and women’s emancipation. He started writing 20 years ago but quit in between. He had to also drop off from school because of financial problems. However, one day in 2010, when he was already in Singapore, he recalled a poem by Rabindranath Tagore titled ‘Abashar’ and decided to start writing again in order to leave some legacy in this world. Jahangir always carries around a thick file of his neatly hand-written poems.

Mohar Khan

Mohar, 33, was born in Munshiganj, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2007 and works in the construction sector.

Mohar writes sonnets but he has also written short stories, novels and non-fiction. His sonnets typically reflect social realities in Bangladesh and Singapore. Mohar likes to write sonnets because the formal structure challenges him to be more creative. He has been writing since he was 13 years old and has also acted in plays. Mohar’s favourite poets are legendary sonnet writers Michael Modhusudhan and Petrarch.

Syedur Rahman Liton

Liton, 30, was born in Sherpur, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2011 and works in the construction sector.

Liton writes sonnets and other poems and has also written short stories. His writings deal with love, patriotism and the lives of workers in Singapore. Liton is also an accomplished singer. He has been writing since he was 15 years old and believes that writing is a way for him to influence the world in a small way by either calling for positive action or by protesting against injustices. Liotn’s favourite writers are Michael Modhusudhan, Sukanto and Shakespeare.

Nazrul Islam

Nazrul, 30, was born in Noakhali, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2004 and works in the construction sector.

Nazrul writes poems, short stories and songs, dealing with patriotism and love. Nazrul, named after the legendary Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, writes to express his emotions and everyday feelings and uses his time during the commute to and from work to write. Nazrul’s favourite poets are Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jasimuddin and Rabindra Nath Tagore.