World Poetry Day was celebrated in Camp-16 in Cox's Bazar with a competition and award ceremony on March 21, 2025. Five promising Rohingya poets were awarded for their artistic brilliance by the judges and special guests. The programme was organised by the poet and human rights activist Shirajul Islam and supported by Zeenat Azmi, the founder of a community artist studio in Cox's Bazar, along with UNESCO, CODEC, TIKA, and Bookworm. 

"We focus on rebuilding and uplifting the Rohingya community, which has faced forced migration, systemic intersectionality, and extensive human rights abuses," explained Shirajul Islam. "Poetry is essential for every individual. It is not only a medium to demonstrate inner feelings but also to document lived experiences and keeps history alive. I write poetry to be a voice for the voiceless, to replace tears with smiles, to find solace, to remain humane and to be my truest self."

The contest received over 20 submissions in Rohingyalish and English translations. Selection was made based on thematic relevance, composition, and thoughtfulness. There were contributions from within the camps and the diaspora—powerful calls for greater humanity and acceptance, recollections of the 2017 genocide, and the hardships of displacement. 

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"The idea for the poetry competition came from a simple story on social media shared by Shirajul Islam, pointing to an international competition his community would love to submit to and the barrier of entry fees making it impossible. I reached out, and offered some support and we quickly formed a plan," explained Zeenat Azmi, a competition judge. "Shirajul led the whole process and was so professional, it was amazing for me to discover how resourceful and confident they are in organising, as well as the creativity of the community. Already it has led to learning about so many writers in the camps and in the diaspora and the literature available. We have a shared journey and a relationship and literature is a beautiful and important way for us to have a dialogue with each other. I hope as a studio we can continue to support their work and be a space where we can continue to learn and share together."

"UNESCO is extremely grateful to support artistic expression and voices of Rohingya in Cox's Bazar and around the world. The words of the Rohingya and other refugees are seldom heard and appreciated. This event has shown us how beautiful and important those words are," added James Russel, Head of Project Office, UNESCO. 

This was the first poetry competition in the Rohingya camp. Many of the speakers echoed the need for more bridges to be made. The winning poems were:

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The winning poems were:
First prize - Ro Hefzu "Food Card Owner"
Second prize - Jaitun Nara "A Silent Witness To A Genocide"
Second prize - Mohammad Zaki "Under the Water"
Third prize - Mohammed Furkan "Let's Take The Step of Revolution" 
Third prize - Mohammad Erfun Amin "Who Will Listen To My Voice" 

The winning poem: "Ekzon Háiddór Kaádhór Malik"
by Ro Hefzu

Añi zodi tuañddíkká uggwá FAIK oíthám.
Añi zuu sárá boyaror goirot noo uñrithám
Añi usol usol hala faár farái zaitham
Añr  decór cúnár meçir bukot bazíbollá
Añr decór kudurotir cúndor boyan goríbollá 
Añr decór hoilla duddufani maásus gorígorí.

Añi zodí tuañddíkká ekzon "veto" RAZA oíthám
Añi refújír louberaíyyá bisaror fáil melá nodíthám
Añi Refújí  lofzóré cíñyordórí háñzái felthám
Hárr mohólúkóré nizor Gór hoí dhakitó díbóllá
Taráré Cántír hákíki moza maásus goraibóllá 
Añr taákot loi zat hótom goroyaré cáñza dídí.

Añi zodi tuañddíkká ekzon FÓUJI oíthám
Añi añçú búkót loí nizámmárí boínotáithám
Añi muúñmór curór dhál bóní tiaithám
Ekkán jan oílé kumi zulúmot doriyattú basaibóllá
Tarár hókkot nizor janforan kurbani dibollá
Tarállá ekkán modotí nezám toyar gorígorí. 

Añi zodi ekzon adikar diya LEKÓYÁ  oíthám
Añi tarar  zulúmór uore banouti kahaní nolekíthám
Añi hárr beinsániyotír cin kulíbar holom doíthám
Folistini Ruháinggar dukkóré kúlí buzáibollá
Añr louhabaíyá holom loi tarár kaháni lekíbollá
Jenusáit soloyar hélaf guzorí abas didi
Afsus, añi noo FAIK, noo RAZA,
Ar noo FÓUJI,  noo adikar diya LEKÓYA
Añi bot kismot walá Ekzon Háiddór Kaádhór Malik.

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English translation: "A Food Card Owner" 

If I were a Bird like you,
I wouldn't soar aimlessly in the waves of air
I'd traverse the high black-mountains 
To touch the golden soil of my homeland,
To witness its beauty, vast and grand.
Feeling its heartbeat beneath my feathers.

If I were a veto PRESIDENT like you,
I'd not throw the bloodstained pages of Refugee
I'd eradicate the word "Refugee" from the world
To let every creature call its own "Home",
To make them feel the true taste of "Peace ".
Using my power to hold criminals accountable.

If I were a SOLDIER like you,  
I wouldn't enfold  my knees crouching in silence 
I would  stand on the front line as a shield.
To save even one life from the scourge of genocide,
To sacrifice my own life in the pursuit of their justice.
Building a supportive system for them.

If I were an authentic WRITER like you, 
I'd not pen the artificial tales on their genocide 
I'd wield my pen to shatter every inhumane chain, 
To articulate the resilience of Palestinians & Rohingyas 
To write their history with my bloodstained pen
Speaking out against the genocide operator.
I am neither BIRD and PRESIDENT, 
Nor SOLDIER and WRITER.
Unfortunately, I am a Food Card Owner now.

Katerina Don is the curator of HerStory Foundation, and together with Shoma Sharmin and Zaima Hamid Zoa hosts Sister Library Dhaka.