By Ro Maung Shwe
In the dusty alleyways of the world’s largest refugee settlement, a quiet revolution is taking place—not with protests or press conferences, but with poetry, nasheeds, and the echoes of a language nearly forgotten. At the heart of it is a group of young Rohingya who believe that culture is not a luxury, but a lifeline.
Their movement is called ARCA—the Arakan Rohingya Cultural Association—and their mission is simple but profound: to revive the moral and cultural soul of a people nearly erased by decades of persecution.
A Poet’s Vision, A Community’s Call
It began with a young man named Yassir Rasheed, a nasheed lover and aspiring poet, whose days in the refugee camp were spent not only in religious study, but in reflection. “I always felt something was missing in our community,” he told Rohingya Khobor. “We had pain, we had struggle, we had faith—but we didn’t have a cultural voice.”
Inspired by Bangladeshi poets like Muhib Khan, Yassir started writing Islamic songs and poems in Rohingya. Soon, he found kindred spirits—Usama Ibrahim, Nayim Ashraf, and others—who shared his belief that without culture, a nation loses its soul.
“We weren’t just trying to sing,” Yassir says. “We were trying to heal.”
Together, they laid the foundation for ARCA—building it from scratch, meeting in corners of learning centers, drafting a constitution by candlelight. In 2025, ARCA formally adopted its charter, turning a dream into a functioning institution.
Faith and Culture Hand in Hand
ARCA is not just a cultural group—it is da’wah-oriented, rooted deeply in Islamic values. But instead of sermons and slogans, their message comes wrapped in nasheed, poetry, and art. Their vision is of a morally grounded, culturally literate Rohingya society—one that knows its history, speaks its language, and walks with dignity.
The songs they write—sometimes joyful, often aching—speak of lost villages, shattered families, divine mercy, and the yearning for home. These are not performances. These are testimonies.
In refugee markets where once only commercial pop music played, now you hear ARCA’s nasheeds:
“Ya Rabb, Arakan is bleeding…”
“O my homeland, I left you, but you never left me…”
A Structure Forged in Simplicity
ARCA runs through three core bodies:
- The Advisory Council, which offers strategic guidance.
- The Shura Committee, which steers decisions, composed of key members like Yassir, Usama, Abu Tayeb, and others.
- The Executive Committee, which handles day-to-day operations—from writing and editing nasheeds, to managing their humble finances.
Yassir, as President, leads both spiritually and creatively. Usama, the Vice President, is a well-known voice online. Other members include Islamic scholars, poets, and youth mentors—all volunteers, all refugees.
The Heartbeat of the Community
ARCA’s impact is spreading. In refugee homes, their videos are watched by candlelight. In youth gatherings, their competitions are awaited eagerly. In learning centers, ARCA-organized events bring boys and girls together—not to sing for fame, but to learn who they are.
They run:
- Poetry and Essay Contests on faith, history, and identity
- Language Promotion Campaigns, especially for the Hanifi script
- Literature Reviews of poems, songs, and short stories
- One nasheed released every month, with themes of hope, remembrance, and repentance
One member jokes, “We don’t have microphones—but we have meaning.”
Changing What Music Means
For generations, music among the Rohingya was either frowned upon or forgotten. ARCA is changing that perception. Their nasheeds are not empty entertainment—they are Islamic, ethical, and community-centered. Young people who once mimicked foreign tunes now write in Rohingya—their native tongue, long neglected, now finding rhythm and rhyme.
“Culture doesn’t mean abandoning religion,” says Usama Ibrahim.
“It means expressing religion through the language of the soul.”
What the Community Says
Rejuwan Khan, a youth leader and humanitarian worker, told Rohingya Khobor:
“I’ve seen their videos. Their work is artistic, ethical, and necessary. I hope they expand into historical research and storytelling, because that’s how a displaced people reclaim their identity.”
Another social activist, Syedul Mustafa, added:
“Our youth are talented. But they lack platforms. ARCA is giving them that. I pray the community supports them—not just with praise, but with resources.”
Sustaining the Spirit
ARCA survives on faith and voluntary contributions. Its members don’t get paid. Their equipment is borrowed, their events self-funded. Sometimes a well-wisher buys a nasheed CD. Sometimes a small honorarium is shared after a performance. They don’t monetize their content. They don’t run ads.
“We are not a business,” Yassir says firmly. “We are a breath of life in a silenced people.”
The Road Ahead
ARCA has ambitious goals:
- To launch documentaries and talk shows on Rohingya society
- To research and publish Rohingya history from an Islamic lens
- To train more youth in language, media, and public speaking
- To become a cultural reference point for the next generation
But for this, they need support—tools, training, mentorship, funding.
Final Words from the Founder
In his message to the international community, Yassir Rasheed shared:
“A nation that loses its culture loses its soul.
When a Muslim society abandons Islam, immorality takes root, family breaks down, and chaos prevails.”
“Through ARCA, we want to awaken the soul of our nation—not just through slogans, but through sound, art, and meaning. We believe in a society based on Islamic values, where faith inspires art, and art awakens hearts.”
“Let us rise—not only to survive, but to live with dignity, purpose, and moral strength.”
Want to support ARCA?
They’re looking for partners who care about cultural identity, Islamic expression, and the dignity of displaced communities. What they lack in funding, they make up in faith. What they need is solidarity.
Because from the ashes of exile, they’re building something beautiful—and it sounds like home.
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