Cleufa (40), son of Sadar Kubi and Vherunika Rema was born in the village Sanyasipara Barurakona Bazar of Kamlakanda Upazila in Netrokona district. Cleufa had typhoid at the age of eight. After a long ailment, he was cured but lost his hearing and speaking abilities. Since childhood Cleufa had a knack for making toys using clay. After losing his hearing-speaking abilities, he involved himself more with making things like toys, flowers, birds and idols. Sharing these with other children made him happy.

Taije Brother House, a mission took Cleufa to Mymensingh town in 1993 after getting acquainted with his talents. The missionaries encouraged Cleufa in honing his skills in woodcuts. For the last 12 years, he has been continuing his artistic endeavours at the Community Centre for Handicapped (CCH) in Mymensingh. He also works as a trainer of wood works at CCH. Cleufa's wife Hena Jumbil also has to work, as his meagre earning is not enough to run a family of three.

The wood works have an extra appeal to art enthusiasts from and out of the region, said Nilanjan Bose, executive director of CCH. Visitors from countries including Japan, France, England, Netherlands, Germany and USA, who come to the CCH, are awed by the impressive creations of an artist who can only communicate with them through his smiles.

Among Cleufa's works figures of Jesus Christ, pencil boxes, miniatures of animals, flower vases, pen stands, calendars, the Holy Cross, miniatures of musical instruments and more are quite popular.

Wood works by Cleufa are found in different shops in Mymensingh and Dhaka, however, CCH cannot supply the artworks according to demands, a source in the CCH told The Daily Star.