The EXDIR of our golden era - setting an example at the grassroots, negotiating 'zones of peace' between warring factions by putting children above the political fray. These were watershed moments.
I relied heavily on my memory and I hope I was able to do justice to the photos!! Regards. Shafique.
These photos were taken during Jim Grant's first visit to Bangladesh in mid 1980 (July or August). He had been appointed Executive Director in January that year.
The occasion was a field visit to a primary school on the outskirts of Dhaka on a rainy day (this explains that we were in gum boots and carrying umbrellas). During the visit Jim was introduced to handpumps and their maintenance mechanisms at the grassroots level.
In the first photo the EXDIR is trying to assemble a hand pump with the help of a village mechanic - a rare instance of a 'hands-on' EXDIR, not seen since!!
The occasion was a field visit to a primary school on the outskirts of Dhaka on a rainy day (this explains that we were in gum boots and carrying umbrellas). During the visit Jim was introduced to handpumps and their maintenance mechanisms at the grassroots level.
In the first photo the EXDIR is trying to assemble a hand pump with the help of a village mechanic - a rare instance of a 'hands-on' EXDIR, not seen since!!
In the second photo from left Mr. Z. Karim. Next to him is Mr. Ken Gibbs (both WES). Next is Unicef Good-will ambassador at that time, Liv Johanne Ullmann, a Norwegian actress (partially eclipsed by the EXDIR) and next to her is a friend of hers.
In the third photo it’s Mr. Karim talking to EXDIR and I was explaining something to Mrs. Grant (Ethel Henck).
In the fourth and final photo the audience is captivated by our Good-will ambassador.
In the fourth and final photo the audience is captivated by our Good-will ambassador.
I relied heavily on my memory and I hope I was able to do justice to the photos!! Regards. Shafique.
Beautiful memories, well preserved.
ReplyDeleteI had the good fortune to have had Zahirul Karim in the WES Section when I took over in 1980. Being an infidel myself, born in Zimbabwe of all places, my understanding of the marriage customs in Bangladesh was, shall we say, very limited. I asked Karim to instruct me which he did with considerable tact and charm. To have seen Karim and his wife was proof positive that the system worked perfectly for them. This was one of many lessons I learned from my national staff members.
ReplyDeleteSeeing these photos - and seeing Sharif himself in a couple of them, reminded me of another of the WES Section staff, Majid. You can read about him in 'Majid and the leaking pumprod' elsewhere on the blog. Go on, you won't regret finding and reading it !