Thousands of fearless people risked their lives to bring freedom through war

Three million people

never came back

But those who came back

brought freedom with them, for us

Now, will you now go to save the life of the person

Who risked his life to bring freedom

For You?

Engr. AJSM Khaled, a valiant freedom fighter in the

1971 War of Liberation, is ailing from Cutaneous T-Cell

Lymphoma, a severe form of blood cancer

Let’s make an effort to save the life of this freedom fighter 

Khaled was only a boy of 18 when he joined the war. He fought for a free Bangladesh. He had been trained as a guerilla in Lower Haflong camp in Assam It is only because of the extraordinary courage of ordinary teenagers like Khaled that we have a free Bangladesh today

He acquired a Government scholarship to pursue higher studies in the then USSRAnd right after completing his studies abroad, Khaled came back to the country, went back to his home ground, Chittagong, and joined as a faculty in the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology

The following many years are only a tale of serving the country with the utmost honesty, sincerity & devotionKhaled has served in the Atomic Energy Commission, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industry Corporation (BSCIC), and various large garments industries for many yearsBefore becoming completely bedridden, Khaled was serving as a senior faculty and technical advisor at Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology

Khaled has authored important books on quality & productivity, that are regarded as essential guidelines for the local apparel sector. These are still unique books in the Bangladesh context

His contributions to the country, didn’t end just thereKhaled got admitted in the premier technical university in the country, BUET

For almost two decades, he is striving against this adversity, a dreadful type of skin cancer

Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma— a treacherous type of white blood cell cancer, that creeps up very slowly. It takes at times more than 10 years to diagnose this disease, and in this case it took 17 years

This disease exposes the victims to immense sufferings; it is extremely painful, debilitating and disfiguring

Though doctors do not claim full cure for the disease, there are a large number of medications to which the disease responds very well and they lead to long remission of the disease which helps regain normal life

About the treatment

For late stage lymphoma, there are a good number of options for treatment:

1. PUVA / UVB + Interferon + Retinoid / Rexinoid (Bexarotene)

2. Total Skin Electron Beam Radiation (TSEB) + Interferon + Retinoid / Rexinoid

3. Photopheresis + Interferon + Retinoid / Rexinoid

The second (TSEB) & the third (Photopheresis) options are very costly and are

available in advanced countries only

According to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, estimated cost

for Photopheresis for six months can be as high as USD 90,000

The Treatment History— A Glimpse

In 2007, doctors in India confirmed by biopsy that Mr. Khaled was suffering from

Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma— also known as MF (Mycosis Fungoides). The disease

was diagnosed in two hospitals in India— Apollo Hospital, Chennai, and Christian

Medical College, Vellore

The hospitals prescribed combined chemotherapy known as CVP for six cycles to

continue on a 3-weeks basis. The chemotherapy course was completed on

September 27, 2008

This brought some comfort but not remission. So doctors prescribed PUVA / UVB +

Interferon + Bexarotene. This course started on October 26, 2008 without

Bexarotene, as the medicine is not available in Bangladesh. Efforts are being made

to procure the medicine from abroad

Like all anti-cancer drugs, Interferon and Bexarotene have enormous side effects. In

order to ward off side-effects, a large number of medications and close monitoring

by doctors are also required

Blood transfusion and hospitalization are required as red and white blood cells as

well as platelets fall too low due to side effects

Treatment duration is a minimum of 6-9 months. Only the

medicines for these 9 months would cost as high as USD

50,000, approximately

— around USD 5,500, per month

Our efforts to save the life

The Bangla blog communities were the incubator where the campaign to raise fund for Khaled’s treatment was first organized

Within one and a half months, around 7 lacs of Taka has been collectedamong which, about 4 lacs taka has been collected only from the Bangla blog communities

Contributions are made from every corner of the country, and throughout the world

However, concerning the necessity, the amount collected so far is really insignificant

Banners, posters, and badges are being distributed to raise awareness among the mass

On May 22, 2009, a cultural program took place at the Muktijuddho Jadughor to raise awareness among the civil society

What we need, is some contribution from you

They say that a hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom

And isn’t it our responsibility to save the person’s life who fought for our freedom?

Isn’t it your opportunity this time

to demonstrate heroism?

Together, let’s make en effort to save the life of a freedom-fighter