Ilias Kanchan’s brief homecoming: Reuniting with old friends and family

Actor and Nirapad Sarak Chai (Nischa) founder Ilias Kanchan, who has been undergoing treatment in the UK since April last year after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, returned to Bangladesh on August 3 during a break from treatment.

After spending a prolonged period abroad, the actor had been longing to return home and meet his relatives. He was also concerned about Nischa and whether the road safety platform he founded was continuing its activities properly.

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Ilias Kanchan’s son, Mirazul Islam Joy, told Ajker Patrika that actors Alamgir, Rozina and Champa have visited his father since his return.

Alamgir visited Ilias Kanchan at his Gulshan residence on Tuesday afternoon and spent nearly two hours with him. While much of their conversation centred on his health, the longtime colleagues also reminisced about old memories and shared lighter moments. Champa visited him on Wednesday, while Rozina met him yesterday. Both enquired about his health and recalled memories from the past.

Meanwhile, Ilias Kanchan is scheduled to attend the 11th grand rally of Nirapad Sarak Chai at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital today. Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury will attend the programme as chief guest, while Kanchan is expected to deliver a brief speech.

The actor is also planning a day trip to his ancestral home in Kishoreganj next week.

“Abbu was missing the country very much. He wanted to meet the people close to him. He was also worried about Nirapad Sarak Chai and whether its activities were continuing properly,” Joy said.

“The main purpose of his presence at the Nirapad Sarak Chai rally today is to reassure him that the work of the platform he dreamed of has not stopped. Those who were involved before are still working with the same dedication. We want him to see that so he can have some peace of mind,” he added.

According to Joy, his father has mostly been spending his time at home since returning to Bangladesh, receiving visits from longtime colleagues and relatives.

“Abbu has expressed his wish to visit our ancestral home in Kishoreganj. We are planning to take him there on Monday or Tuesday for a day,” he said.

Providing an update on his father’s health, Joy said Kanchan remains able to understand conversations and recognise everyone around him, although the treatment has left him physically weak.

“He understands everything and can recognise everyone. Chemotherapy has made him physically weak. Following his surgery in August last year, he underwent more than 60 chemotherapy sessions over 12 weeks, receiving treatment five days a week,” Joy said.

“He then completed the first three-month phase of oral therapy, followed by another three months of oral therapy in the second phase. Because of this, the effects of ageing have become more visible over the past year. He finds it difficult to speak continuously for more than two or three minutes and has to speak slowly.”

Joy, however, said doctors were satisfied with his father’s condition and that the tumour had significantly reduced in size.

“Since the tumour has not yet been completely removed and chemotherapy has now been completed, the doctors are considering a new course of treatment,” he said.

Joy said Ilias Kanchan will leave Bangladesh for London on the morning of August 12. His wife and son-in-law, Ariful Islam Collins, will accompany him.

After arriving in London, the actor will rest for a week before resuming treatment. Doctors will conduct further tests and examinations before determining the next course of treatment.