Two ARTivism competition winners from Bangladesh and one from Rohingya refugee community in Cox’s Bazar are among 17 prize winners in an Asia-wide climate art competition, whose artworks are on display at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The competition in Asia region, organized by Save the Children, asked children to express their climate crisis concerns and solutions through art.

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Finalists in the regional competition were shortlisted from national competitions in eight Asian countries and two refugee communities.

In Bangladesh, the competition was jointly arranged by Save the Children in Bangladesh and Kishor Alo.

In regional competition, a painting by Mostofa Nurul Absar from Brahmanbaria district, has won Gold Medal under the category ‘Nature’ and a photograph by Ushoshi Momen from Dhaka has won Silver Medal under the category ‘Prepare and Adapt’ from Bangladesh.

The winning entries – chosen by a panel of teenage climate activists – include paintings, photography, poems and rap songs from Bangladesh, China, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

They have been exhibited alongside the other finalists in a virtual gallery and being displayed at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) from 1-12th November in Glasgow, Scotland.

Eleven-year-old Mostofa Nurul Absar, winner of the Gold Medal for his painting ‘Climate change and the life of a Royal Bengal Tiger’ said they have to make the world livable not only for humans but also for our valuable wildlife. “I am overwhelmed about my painting reaching to the world leaders directly. I just want them to hear my message and act.”

Program Development and Quality Director Reefat Bin Sattar from Save the Children in Bangladesh said, “I am very happy about our children that they understand the climate emergency. They have projected the crisis through their artworks very well to make the world leaders understand the urgency of taking action immediately. We have to prioritize their messages which they have given through the artworks.” 

The children from Bangladesh took part in the photography and painting competition titled 'ARTivism: Climate Change in My Eyes' and shared their thoughts on climate change through photographs and paintings.

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More than five hundred children of the country took part in this competition. First 40 people and then after further screening, four children have won this competition in country level.

These final four artworks have been sent to the region to compete with the other Asian countries and finally the two artworks got selected for displaying in COP26.