Veteran actor and Nirapad Sarak Chai (NISCHA) chairman Ilias Kanchan has left Dhaka for London once again to continue his medical treatment.
He departed for London on a flight on Wednesday morning. NISCHA Vice-Chairman Liton Ershad confirmed the news.
Liton said he spent around five hours with Kanchan on Tuesday night before his departure.
He said he had initially been reluctant to meet him before the flight because he feared becoming emotional.
“He kept saying one thing repeatedly: ‘Pray for me. Continue working for Nirapad Sarak Chai. I pray that all of you will take the organisation forward together,’” Liton said.
Kanchan returned to Bangladesh on 3 August after spending more than 15 months in London for treatment.
On Tuesday, he travelled to his ancestral home in Karimganj, Kishoreganj, where he met family members and relatives.
On his way there, he visited the historic Pagla Mosque, offered prayers and made a donation.
His son Mirajul Moin Joy accompanied him.
Kanchan has been receiving treatment in London since April last year after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He underwent brain surgery at a London hospital in August 2025.
Doctors removed a significant portion of the tumour but could not remove it entirely because of the risks involved. He was subsequently diagnosed with brain cancer.
Following the surgery, he underwent prolonged treatment. His initial treatment included three months of chemotherapy, followed by oral therapy.
According to his family, he received more than 60 chemotherapy sessions over 12 weeks, with treatment five days a week. He subsequently completed two three-month phases of oral therapy.
Despite the prolonged treatment, Kanchan’s health has not improved as much as expected.
He has now returned to London to undergo further treatment under his doctors’ supervision.
Liton said Kanchan is scheduled to undergo another brain scan on 19 August.
Doctors have advised him to rest for at least a week after the flight to allow his body to recover from the strain of air travel and changes in cabin pressure.
The London medical team will decide on the next stage of his treatment after reviewing the scan results.
Kanchan, who rose to prominence as a leading actor in Bangladeshi cinema, later became one of the country’s most prominent road-safety advocates through his work with Nirapad Sarak Chai.
