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Dhaka Day by Day

No Time for Ennui

by Fajia Haq
Do foreign wives, accustomed to the life of the cosmopolitan cities of the world, find it irksome and claustrophobic in Dhaka? Certainly not. judging by their remarks at a tete a tete
Busba (Sandra] Chindawongse the wife of the Ambassador of Thailand, due to leave Bangladesh next month, says she will have wept three times because of her association with Dhaka. T was initially so depressed at the idea of coming to a place with rampant poverty and overpopulation. But having come here and lived here with the warm and hospitable peo pie 1 truly regret leaving them They have given me so much of friendship and understanding, says Sandra, as she is known to her friends.
"When TH be at the new post tn Sweden TH surely miss my old Bangladeshi circle and weep yet again. Swedish people are vety progressive but they have not the time for you as do people tn the East."
Sandra has never been bored or listless for a minute while in Dhaka. She filled her days with aerobics, painting classes. German lessons, bridge. tennis and for a wMe.vgolf. She did a fair amount of charity work for handicapped children. She helped the Zonta Chib and the WVA. She was very excited about the prospects of a Thai-Bangladeshi Friendship Association that will commence soon.
Sandra was fascinated with the "JamdanT but would have found it difficult to look after it abroad. However, she made numerous shalwar kameez' sets with Rajshahl silk. Her only complaint was the dust that gave her a cold tn winter. Sandra is the mother of two grown up children.
Mrs. Hestia Soemakna. the wife of the Indonesian Ambassador, speaking to The Dally Star" over hinch commented."Tm Interested in all women from various strata of life and not simply the wives of the affluent Bangladeshis. I find It fascinating that two women. Sheikh Ilasina and Begum Zia are being nominated as president." z
JiasUa is an author of two books tn Indonesian — the first a book on human attitude and behaviour. and the second an anthology of short stories. She is at present working on a manuscript on Bangladeshi women and thetr Jnvolvement in politics. "I have great empathy fot I Ik- women In Bangladesh
liestia Is another person wrapped up in rial work. Back home she is involved in "Dharma Wanlta" which forms an Integral duly for the wives of civil servants In Indonesia Here too she works for charitable causes.
There is a tot of similarity between the lives of the Indonesians and Bangladeshis. HesUa be Iteves. The religion is the same We too are rice and fish eaters. We have a Sanskrit back-Cund as well and use words In our vx abulary
'prodhan', uttara' and slri'. In certain parts of Indonesia It rains tn the same way as it does tn Bangladesh " she says
She is a proud grandmother of two children and a mother of three.
Beyhan Fmlsoghu was a teacher before she married her diplomat husband, nowan ambassador to Bangladesh. She comes from Istanbul and feels there is much more to Dhaka than sweat, grime, struggle and poverty. "Dhaka Is not just a city of rickshaws. Rickshaws are there 1n Hongkong and Thailand. It is a place of rich parathas'. bakarkhanls' and savoury meat dishes". Bcyhan Insists. "It Is like most other cities. The only difference is that there are many more people tn this city than you find in most other places." she adds. Easygoing, good-natured and optimistic she plans to enjoy every moment pf her stay in Bangladesh.
An ardent enthusiast of Dhaka "nakshi kathas" and brass items is Zaiml Khadija, the wife of the Moroccan Ambassador, who has decorated her home with Bangladeshi objects d art. She has blended them well with her furnishing obtained from Italy.
T have spent a lot of time In collecting silk saris from Dhaka that I have converted into Moroccan kaftans to be embroidered with gold threads." Zaiml says. She is also delighted with the Bangladeshi pink pearl and has quite a collection of her own.
Although Zalmi has access to the usual r i inue of servants she herself makes the tradt tlonal Moroccan sweetmeats for her guests from honey arid almonds.
She naturally treasures her visits home during vacation but is perfectly contented to spend her time in Dhaka. She has a grown- up daughter completing her education in France. .