“He asked me, ‘Ejaj, will I survive?’” Dr Ejajul Islam affectionately recalls Humayun Ahmed

Today (July 19) marks the 14th death anniversary of celebrated writer and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed. 

Acclaimed actor and physician Dr Ejajul Islam shared a series of heartfelt memories of the legendary writer, recalling a friendship that extended far beyond the sets of television dramas and films.

Having worked extensively in Humayun Ahmed's productions over the years, Dr Ejaj said their relationship was as warm in private life as it was on screen.

"Sir loved hilsa and shing fish. I knew how fond he was of them," he recalled. "When he returned to Bangladesh for a brief visit from the United States after being diagnosed with cancer, I went to see him at Nuhash Polli. On the way, I bought a few carefully selected hilsa from the market."

Before setting off, he would prepare the fish at home. "I cut off the heads and tails, sliced the fish into pieces, packed everything neatly in a bag and took it with me. I handed it over to the cook at Nuhash Polli, but I never told Sir that I had brought it."

During that visit, Humayun Ahmed showed him several medical reports. "He asked me, 'Doctor, have a look at these reports. Tell me, do you think I'll survive?' What could I possibly say? We had all realised how serious his condition was. He was receiving treatment at one of the world's leading cancer hospitals in the United States, yet he was asking me to read his reports. Deep inside, I kept praying for a miracle. Miracles do happen. People return from the brink. I prayed that my teacher would recover and come back to us."

He also remembered a difficult conversation with Humayun Ahmed's mother. "She asked me, 'Tell me honestly, will Humayun survive?' I replied, 'Yes, Khala, he will.' She looked at me and said, 'Why are you giving me false hope?' After that, I couldn't say another word."

Later that day, the hilsa was cooked and served. "Sir asked, 'Who brought this hilsa?' When he found out it was me, he smiled and said, 'Doctor really knows how to choose good hilsa. He has a good hand for buying fish. Not everyone can pick fish like this’."

That compliment became something of a recurring joke between them. "I visited him again on another occasion. There were many visitors that day. The last words Sir ever said to me were, 'Doctor, have some breakfast.' Those were the final words I heard from him."

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