Where art empathises with the silent struggles of cancer-affected lives
Cancer is a disease that does not only attack the body; it slowly drains the soul. It forces both the patient and their family into a daily battle, watching a loved one fight for life while the illness relentlessly tries to take everything away. Every day becomes a test of strength, patience, and hope.
For those with financial means, there is at least a fragile thread of hope, the possibility of treatment, care, and support. But for those who cannot afford the fight, the suffering feels endless. Their days are marked by uncertainty, pain, and the quiet fear of being left without options.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. For them, a ray of light arrives in the name of Alok Nibash, an initiative by BANCAT, Bangladesh’s first holistic cancer care home. Here, cancer patients receive free treatment and accommodation, along with counseling and emotional support for both themselves and their families. It is more than a shelter; it is a space of dignity, compassion, and healing. This brainchild of Najmus Ahmed Albab, a cancer survivor himself, was born out of a desire to help those without the financial means to fight cancer, giving them hope, care, and a chance to rebuild their lives.
Last night, BANCAT created a space where pain could finally speak. Through kabbo sangeet, poetry, and storytelling, untold emotions found their way into words and melodies. The audience was not just made up of guests; it included survivors carrying their scars with courage, families still fighting beside loved ones, and those who have lost someone they will never stop missing. Together, they shared stories of love, loss, fear, and resilience. Grief turned into art, sorrow into voice, and suffering into connection. It was not just an artistic event—it was a collective act of healing, a reminder that even in the darkest battles, humanity can create light, warmth, and hope.
Mahzabin Ferdous, General Secretary of BANCAT, hosted the event by introducing the guests. The first to take the stage were Jeetu Ahsan and Kizzy Tahnin, who narrated moving stories of cancer patients. The struggles and pain of these families brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
After sharing these stories, Jeetu Ahsan shared a personal reflection: “About a year ago, I had no idea that an organization like BANCAT existed, or that such work was being done for cancer patients. My daughter started working here, which gave me the opportunity to come as well. There, I saw a small child diagnosed with cancer. After the diagnosis, the father left, and the mother brought the child here. What touched me deeply was that in such a dark and overwhelming situation, there were people with no hope left. Just hearing the word cancer fills us with fear. Where would this child go? There was no place for the child to go in Bangladesh.”
“Now the child is here, safe, and hopeful. If Allah the Almighty has written a beautiful future for this child, the child will be able to look toward it. From the bottom of my heart, I thank Albab bhai and everyone involved with this organization for creating such a space. I firmly believe that all of us—those here, those outside, and those who will learn about this work in the future—will stand by this initiative. I make that promise,” he concluded.
Next, Dr. Zobaida Akhter, originally scheduled to narrate a poem, instead read a heartfelt piece dedicated to her mother—an open letter to her dearest mother.
The stage was then set with simple instruments: tabla, harmonium, and keyboard. Rabindra Sangeet singer Mahnaz Karim was to perform, but she became deeply emotional hearing the stories of cancer.
“Albab bhai wanted me to join him with Alok Nibash, but due to circumstances I couldn’t. Today, when he invited me to sing, I thought it would be okay. But hearing all these stories brought back my own memories. I am the mother of a cancer survivor. I know every part of this journey. In 2011, my son had just completed six years. Suddenly, he was admitted to United Hospital and later diagnosed with cancer. We took him to Singapore for treatment. It was a truly difficult time. Ever since then, I have tried to escape the word cancer and the emotions tied to it. Please forgive me for any shortcomings. Some moments bring us back to the past, and remembering them makes it hard for me, as a singer, to perform.”
Mahnaz Karim then sang “Sokatore Oi Kadiche Sokole” and “Bhalobese Sokhi Nibhrite”, moving the audience deeply.
Fahim Hossain Chowdhury followed with renditions of “Akash Bhora Surjo Tara” and “Neel Akasher Niche Ei Prithibi.”
Professor Dr. Nashid Kamal then shared her reflections and sang: “Thank you very much. Hearing stories of loved ones affected by cancer has moved me deeply. My husband passed away from cancer. I was blessed with a wonderful husband, but I had to lose him to this disease. I have seen Albab’s parents and we are almost like a family. Even for those of us not personally affected, cancer somehow finds its way into our lives.”
She then performed “Tomar Du Chokhe Amar Swapna Aka” and “Srijono Chonde Anonde Nacho Notoraj.”
Later, Najmus Ahmed Albab and his wife Kaniz Fahmida Ahmed recited poems Albab had written during his own battle with cancer. Albab shared:
“I published a book of poetry during a very difficult period of my life. I went through such dark days that I didn’t even want to see the light. I wrote those poems at night. I will read two today. My first poem, ‘Khoma,’ was born from questioning my own faults. I later realized that cancer was a blessing in disguise. I tried to ensure I would not hurt anyone, not even unconsciously. To forgive and forget is the true beauty of life. Our next poem, ‘Khushi,’ reflects the joy and hope my wife brought into my life, which I tried to capture in words.”
He concluded by reading a poem dedicated to his father, with whom he had a distant relationship that became deeply close during his cancer journey.
The Kabbo Sangeet segment ended with Mustari Hossain Panna, who had paused her singing career for a while after losing her son Mosabbir to cancer. Together with her husband, they later joined Alok Nibash, helping patients who could not afford treatment. She performed “Khelicho E Bissho Loye” and “Dui Chokhe Dui Nodi.”
The evening concluded with a powerful recitation by Jayanto Chattopadhyay, who narrated the story of Albab’s battle with acute myeloid leukemia and his journey to founding Alok Nibash—a safe haven for cancer patients, offering a ray of hope amid the harsh realities of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Finally, Lt. Col. Mudassir Hossain Khan (Retd), Bir Pratik, Chief Advisor of BANCAT, shared his own story: “This is a special day. People from different walks of life have gathered here. Most of us have either lost someone to cancer or survived it ourselves. I am a cancer survivor. In Bangladesh, there are millions of cancer patients, but only a handful of hospitals offer treatment. Many cannot afford care abroad. If we, as a nation, come together to help these people, we can create a safe and caring space for all who are fighting this disease.”
As the night came to an end, what stayed with me was not just the music or the poetry, but the courage and hope that filled the room. I saw survivors, parents, and families who had faced the unimaginable, yet chose to keep going, to keep loving, and to keep believing. Alok Nibash is more than a place for treatment—it is a home where lives are restored, hearts are healed, and hope is given a chance to grow.
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