Kanak Chanpa Chakma

A Day of Hope, 2025;

Acrylic on Canvas

Kanak Chanpa Chakma is a celebrated Bangladeshi artist from the Chakma ethnic group. Her paintings feature the daily lives of indigenous people, particularly women, portrayed with a distinctive style that combines semi-realistic and abstract elements. Born in the Rangamati Hill Tracts, she draws inspiration from the natural beauty and vibrant colours of her home.

Chakma is known for her activism through art, addressing social issues, indigenous identity, and women’s rights. Her award-winning work has been exhibited internationally and she was honored with the Ekushey Padak in 2023 for her contributions to painting.

Climate change poses a grave threat to Bangladesh, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. Rising sea levels are submerging coastal areas, causing saltwater intrusion that ruins farmland, contaminates drinking water, and displaces millions. More intense cyclones and unpredictable floods devastate homes, crops, and infrastructure, while erratic rainfall and droughts disrupt agriculture. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, shifting weather patterns and soil erosion threaten the livelihoods of indigenous hill tribes, forcing changes to traditional jhum cultivation. Despite these challenges, Bangladesh is pioneering adaptation through cyclone shelters, floating farms, and resilient housing, offering valuable lessons in community-based climate resilience.