Alumni driving community-led environmental action in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Posted: 5 June 2026
This World Environment Day, Australia Awards Bangladesh is highlighting three alumni from the Chittagong Hill Tracts who are advancing environmental sustainability, indigenous knowledge, and community resilience. While each has led significant change individually, they are now working together to strengthen community-driven environmental governance with the support of an Australia Awards Alumni Support Grant.
Indigenous woman leader and Executive Director of Bolipara Nari Kalyan Somity, Hla Shing Nue, has dedicated more than three decades to promoting women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, and sustainable development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Under her leadership, Bolipara Nari Kalyan Somity has expanded its work in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and community-based natural resource management, particularly supporting marginalised indigenous communities in Bangladesh.
Hla has represented indigenous communities in international forums, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress and global platforms on climate resilience, strengthening global–local linkages in environmental advocacy.
Hla (third from right) participating in the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as a panelist at the first-ever Indigenous Peoples Pavilion, speaking about Indigenous environmental knowledge and women’s empowerment.
In 2025, Hla completed the Australia Awards Indigenous Environmental Knowledge Short Course delivered by the University of the Sunshine Coast. Through engagement with First Nations communities in Queensland and the Northern Territory, she strengthened her understanding of environmental stewardship grounded in respect for land, nature, and community.
Reflecting on her experience, Hla said, “Through the Australia Awards Short Course, I learned how indigenous knowledge can protect our environment sustainably—knowledge I continue to apply in my community.”
Ching Shing Prue, Executive Director of TAHZINGDONG, brings more than 20 years of experience in environmental sustainability and community engagement in the development sector.
His work has focused on forest landscape restoration, biodiversity conservation, and indigenous land management, working closely with traditional leaders and community stakeholders to promote sustainable practices.
Like Hla, Ching also completed the Australia Awards Indigenous Environmental Knowledge Short Course in 2025 where he gained practical insights from engaging with First Nations communities in Australia. These experiences continue to inform his work in strengthening community-led environmental governance in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
“Learning from First Nations communities in Australia strengthened my approach to community-led environmental management in the Chittagong Hill Tracts,” Ching said.
Ching (third from left, back row) and Hla (right), learn about the culture of First Nations people in Australia at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Lelung Khumi, a development practitioner with over 14 years of experience, has worked across INGOs and local NGOs in project management, stakeholder engagement, and community development. Through his work, he strengthens local governance, livelihood development, and youth engagement. He is also an active advocate for indigenous knowledge systems in land and forest management, promoting sustainable practices rooted in traditional wisdom.
He completed a Bachelor of Social Science (majoring in Sociology) at Southern Cross University in Lismore, New South Wales, through an Australia Awards Scholarship in 2010.
Notably, as part of an Australia Awards Alumni Support Grant project, Lelung contributed to an environmental preservation initiative that successfully advocated for legal action to stop illegal stone extraction in Bandarban, helping protect local water sources and prevent environmental degradation.
“My Australia Awards education shaped my commitment to sustainable development, helping me integrate community knowledge into environmental and governance work,” said Lelung.
Lelung (Left) celebrating as part of the winning team at the 2018 Australia Awards Regional Alumni Workshop held in Thimphu, Bhutan.
While each alum has made a significant contribution individually, their collaboration reflects the strength of the Australia Awards alumni network.
Together, they have recently been awarded an Australia Awards Alumni Support Grant to implement a joint initiative focused on strengthening the capacity of indigenous traditional leaders in environmental governance and sustainable land management.
The initiative builds on their shared commitment to promoting indigenous knowledge systems, strengthening traditional and community leadership, and supporting sustainable and climate-resilient development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Their collective journey demonstrates how Australia Awards alumni are translating knowledge into action, working together to drive community-led environmental change.