In contrast to regions where climate change is still only subtly felt, its consequences in Bangladesh are stark and unrelenting. Coastal communities face ever-stronger cyclones, storm surges, and rising sea levels with little protection. The growing salinity of the soil and water is contaminating freshwater sources, triggering severe health crises. As arable land disappears and fish stocks decline, food insecurity deepens—driving more and more people to leave their homes and seek refuge in cities.

‘The Blue Fig’ explores these realities through deeply personal and visually powerful images. The photographs capture not only the damage and loss, but also the quiet strength and resilience of those living on the edge of disaster. ‘The Blue Fig’ stands as a tribute to survival. These images call attention to the urgent need for global climate action, while honoring the enduring spirit of people who, against all odds, carry on.

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Mohammad Rakibul Hasan is a documentary photographer, filmmaker, visual artist, and art educator based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His work centres on human rights, social development, politics, the environment, and spirituality. As a visual journalist, he contributes to ZUMA Press, Redux Pictures, Inter Press Service, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Hasan’s photography has been exhibited internationally, including at Photo Basel, the Shanghai Photo Festival, the Berlin Photo Festival, and in numerous galleries around the world.