Actor and casting director Mizanur Rahman Mizan has been battling serious brain-related complications for more than two years, and his family is now seeking financial assistance to arrange the surgery he urgently needs.
Mizan has reportedly suffered three strokes, leaving him bedridden and unable to speak or move independently. His eldest son, Mehraj Hossain Miraj, has appealed to film industry organisations and the government for support, saying the family is struggling to cover the cost of his treatment.
Speaking on Tuesday, 20 October, Miraj said his father had devoted years to the film industry but had received little support during his illness. According to him, Mizan’s condition deteriorated after the strokes, and he has experienced brain haemorrhages and recurrent bleeding.
He also spent a considerable period receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which placed a heavy financial burden on the family.
Miraj said his father had been confined to bed for more than nine months and had become completely immobile over the past seven months. Mizan can no longer speak and requires a feeding tube for both food and medication. His family must also provide constant assistance with his daily needs.
“He urgently needs surgery, but we cannot manage everything on our own. We are asking everyone to help us get my father the treatment he needs. We also appeal to the government for assistance. He has done so much for the film industry, and people should stand beside him,” Miraj said.
He also expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of support from the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) and the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association.
Miraj recalled that actor Joy Chowdhury had visited their home with several YouTubers before an association election and offered to help if the family needed assistance.
However, Miraj alleged that his subsequent attempts to contact the actor went unanswered for months. He said Chowdhury eventually provided a small amount of money after nearly three months of attempts.
The association, however, has disputed the claim that it failed to support Mizan. Its organising secretary, Sony Rahman, said the association had maintained contact with the family and provided financial assistance on several occasions.
Rahman said he had personally visited Mizan when he was receiving treatment at Community Hospital and contributed Tk 20,000 towards his medical expenses. He added that the association had also provided Tk 5,000 before the election and again a few days afterwards, with further assistance given to the family on Tuesday.
Mizan has worked in more than a thousand films, according to his son, appearing in productions spanning several generations of Bangladeshi cinema, from the era of Razzak and Shabana to films featuring Shakib Khan.
Alongside acting, he worked as a casting director and helped many people find opportunities in the industry.
He also served as general secretary of the newly formed assistant artistes’ association during the period when Shakib Khan was elected president of the Film Artistes’ Association.
In 2011, Mizan produced a film titled ‘Amrao Manush’. Despite investing around Tk 70 lakh, he was unable to release it.
As his condition continues to place immense pressure on his family, Miraj has renewed his appeal for assistance to secure the advanced medical care his father needs.
