বাংলাA family in Mohanpur, Rajshahi, has lost its father and three sons to cancer over several years. The surviving eldest son is battling stage-four colon cancer, while two other family members have hepatitis B. The wife of the late Esarul Islam, Jharna Begum, is also fighting stage-four brain cancer. The biggest concern for the cancer-stricken family is now the uncertain future of five-year-old Junaid and 11-year-old Israt.
The heartbreaking story comes from Atanarayanpur village under Ghashigram Union in Mohanpur. Once a financially stable and socially established family, they have been pushed into severe financial hardship by repeated deaths and the cost of medical treatment. Land has been sold or mortgaged, while debts have continued to rise.
Family members said Abdul Hamid died of liver cancer in 2022 at the age of 80. His son Sadrul Islam had died of the same disease in 2020. Another son, Mamun Or Rashid, died of liver cancer in 2024. Esarul Islam died the following year. The cancer-stricken family has therefore lost four close family members to cancer.
Jharna Begum, wife of the late Esarul, is now battling stage-four brain cancer. After suffering a stroke, her right hand and leg became paralyzed, and she has difficulty speaking and remembering things. She is receiving regular chemotherapy and has undergone brain surgery in Dhaka.
Jharna said she travelled to India four times for her husband’s treatment, spending around Tk 2 million. Doctors eventually said there was little chance of his survival. While still in India, she suffered a brain stroke and was later diagnosed with brain cancer. Her own cancer was detected just one month after her husband’s death.
Five-year-old Junaid helps his mother with household tasks after returning from school. His 11-year-old sister Israt sometimes takes leftover food to school. Jharna needs around Tk 8,000 worth of medicine every month, but financial difficulties sometimes force her to stop taking medication.
Another major concern is Shafiqul Islam, Esarul’s elder brother, who is also suffering from stage-four colon cancer. He has undergone surgery and remains under treatment. He said he had lost his father and three younger brothers to cancer and was now fighting the same disease himself. Relatives estimate that the cancer-stricken family has spent nearly Tk 10 million on treatment.
Family members also include two people who are hepatitis B positive, while another relative suffers from stomach ulcers and gallstones. The family’s younger sisters remain healthy, but repeated cancer deaths have created fear about their own future.
The Mohanpur Upazila Social Services Office has provided Tk 50,000 in financial assistance, while some medicines have been arranged through the Patient Welfare Foundation. Officials are also considering contacting SOS Children’s Village in Rajshahi if necessary to support the two children.
The family that once lived in a lively household is now facing grief, illness, debt and uncertainty. Above all, the cancer-stricken family hopes that Junaid and Israt will not lose their childhood, education and future because of their mother’s illness and the family’s devastating circumstances.
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