Dhaka: For more than five decades, Father Robert Terence McCahill, a Maryknoll missionary known affectionately as “Bob Bhai,” has dedicated his life to serving disabled and underprivileged children across Bangladesh. At 88, the American-born priest continues his tireless work, riding his bicycle every day to visit villages, offer medical guidance, and bring hope to families in need. This week marks his 50th year of service in the South Asian nation.
Over the last 50 years, McCahill has traveled through 13 administrative districts, typically spending three years in each region before moving to the next. His most recent posting was in Srinagar, Munshiganj district near Dhaka, where he completed his three-year term in late November. True to his missionary spirit, he has no fixed plans for his next assignment. “Just as Jesus was not tied to one place, I travel to reach people of all religions with love and service,” he told CNA on Nov. 18.
Born in Iowa in 1937, McCahill moved to Indiana during his childhood. He was ordained a priest in 1964 and initially served in the Philippines. In 1975, at the invitation of Archbishop T.A. Ganguly of Dhaka, he arrived in Bangladesh and learned Bengali for a year before beginning his first assignment in Tangail district, where he spent nine years.
Over time, McCahill became a familiar and beloved figure across villages. He earned the nickname “Bob Bhai” from a Muslim friend, a name that continues to resonate in the communities he serves. Families often speak of his warmth and dedication. Abdul Mannan Khan, whose 15-year-old son is disabled, recalled, “Bob Bhai laughs and jokes with my son. Through him, we receive medical care without paying a penny. Not everything is possible with money many great things are possible with love, like Bob Bhai is doing.”
Father Bob lives modestly wherever he goes, often in small rented rooms or donated spaces. In Srinagar, he stayed in a tiny schoolroom partitioned with tin walls, furnished only with a wooden bed, mosquito net, fan, kerosene stove, and his trusty bicycle. Each day, he cycles 12–15 miles to reach children in rural villages, transporting them to hospitals as needed.
Eighty-three-year-old Farman, whose grandson Rakibul became disabled after birth, praised McCahill’s dedication: “Bob Bhai visits early in the morning on his bicycle. Thanks to his guidance, my grandson now receives free treatment in Dhaka and is showing signs of improvement.”
McCahill’s love for bicycles stems from his youth. Before joining the priesthood, he worked as a newspaper delivery boy, house cleaner, and truck driver. A near-fatal truck accident, which he survived through prayer, inspired him to pursue a life of missionary service. He views the bicycle not only as a practical means of transportation in rural Bangladesh but also as a symbol of simplicity, health, and connection with the people he serves.
Despite Bangladesh being over 90% Muslim, McCahill has faced little difficulty in earning trust and forming deep bonds. “The first year, there is suspicion. By the second year, people begin to trust you. By the third year, there is affection. Then I move to the next district to do the same,” he explained.
McCahill emphasizes that a priest’s mission extends beyond the church walls. He celebrates Mass daily and believes in spreading Christ’s message through action and compassion. “I want to live like this, serving people until I can no longer walk. When I die, I wish to be buried here in Bangladesh,” he said.
For generations of disabled children and their families, Father Bob’s bicycle is more than a vehicle it is a lifeline, carrying love, care, and hope across the villages of Bangladesh.