Oral History Interview with Rasel Ahmed

DESCRIPTION
Content note: description of violence, homophobia, anti-refugee biases, racism

In this wide-ranging oral history, Rasel Ahmed, co-founder of the Roopbaan magazine, delves into his experiences of political organizing and publishing in Bangladesh and fleeing to the U.S. Rasel shares memories of his involvement in LGBTQ+ projects such as Roopbaan short film and Project Dhee. Rasel narrates how his life changed dramatically after the publication of Roopbaan magazine. From harassment at university and social media to threats of violence from religious extremists, Rasel contextualizes his post-publication persecution in the tumultuous political moment in Bangladesh after 2012.

Rasel describes his temporary relocation to Kolkata, India after potential threat of police arrest, not finding asylum in India as a muslim person, and then moving to the U.S. during Eid-ul-Fitr in 2016. In the U.S., Rasel shares memories of grappling with anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and depression. He also shares experiences of racism and sexism within South Asian communities. Rasel narrates his attempts at making community in the U.S. and reflects on his changing sense of home as a Bangladeshi gay migrant after Trump’s election. The oral history touches on different complexities of migrant life—economic precarity, relationships and sexuality, temporary work, homelessness, asylum stigma, and friendships.

THEMES
Gender & Sexuality

AUDIO
Duration: 02:36:07

ADDITIONAL METADATA
Date: December 22, 2020 to December 26, 2020
Subject(s): Rasel Ahmed
Type: Oral History
Source: Archival Creators Fellowship Program
Creator: Efadul Huq
Location: Washington D.C.

PROVENANCE
Collection: Efadul Huq Fellowship Project
Item History: 2021-07-09 (created); 2024-05-26 (modified)

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