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Dhaka Day by Day

Brains and Beauty

by Fayza Haq
As she walked down the Sonargaon lobby to talk to me, I was struck by the regality of Ms. Morjall.i Rast's bearing. This Finnish ambassador, posted in New Ik-lhl. and seeing to the interests of Bangladesh. Sri Lanka . Nepal and Bhutan as well, looked a fair combination of Princess Diana, and Lynn Redgrave. Iler clinging pinkish-red dress with its pleated skirt and her earrings, that would be the envy of any maharant, certainly made her look dignified and poised. Her white shoes and handbag completed the suave appearance of an accomplished woman who went places.
,A career diplomat for twenty years. Ms. Rasi has always found great satisfaction in her Job. "As I progress I learn mon; and more, she commented.
"I came into the profession by accident." she insisted. This was not my drcam as a child. I am a lawyer by training. I am also interested In politics, history and languages and that channeled me off into diplomacy." The diplomat is proficient in Finnish. Swedish. German, French and Spanish.
She found her most challenging job, she told me. when she was a member of the UN Security Council during the Gulf crisis of '89 '90, when' she was helping to monitor the implementation of sanction against Iraq.
In the same vein , she said she had her amusing experiences tn her career when she was often taken for a ambassador's wife but never an ambassador . Ms. Rasi has served as a Second Secretary, tn London, a Second Secretary in Paris and the Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN in New York.
As an ambassa dor in New Delhi, she finds her job challenging. "I have to learn a lot. The more I study the
problems facing the country . There is overpopulation which can be eradicated only through education. The economic problems loo arc Intense. The floods, cyclones and other natural calamities add to the poverty and suffering of the common people."
What arc the prospects of bilateral understanding between Finland and Bangladesh? "Although there is an agreement between India and Finland there is no such understanding between my country and Bangladesh. However a lot can be done on an ad hoc basis. A formal agreement is not necessary. There can be cultural exchanges in the field of music, dancing and in the form of art exhibitions.'' the ambassador commented.
W/cre there any prospects of Bangladeshi manpower being employed in . Finland? "Finland is loo far away from Bangladesh. The terpperature is too cold for your people . The language is difficult for the average Bangladeshi to pick up. Moreover we do not require foreign labour . as Is the case of some other European countries. Again, the neighbouring Baltic suites will be sending their labour across the border and we will have to accommodate them."she spelt out frankly.
Ms. Rasi felt that there might be scope in the export of garments and spices to Finland. “BUt it Is more realistic to have Joint ventures to develop machinery or chemicals as has been happening In India."
Talking about her impression of Bangladesh in Ihe four days that she was here, she narrated how she had been to Chittagong to inaugurate a bridge and came back in a small plane so that she got a chance to study the topography of the country. "It ts remarkable how flat and green the country is. The
more is the chance to get confused with the pile of information. In India there arc so many languages, cultures, traditions, and religions. I find Bangladesh easier to handle. Dealing with Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal as well, is surely a handful, as you can assess. The reason why I- inland docs not have separate ambassadors for the different countries is basically because we are more Europe oriented. Again, the country does not have Inal much of resources to establish embassies at will. I admit this is not ,aa
dearly lik'd to." the Finnish diplomat commented.
She has had the feel of India for a few months now. How docs she feel about her posting there? "India is a complex society." she confided "but it is interesting lo witness all the new policies that the Prime Minister Rao is implementing. Il is wonderful lo watch all these new changes'
She added. To some extent the same is happening in Bangladesh I'he country lias returned to demoeraty after a fair ekxUon. 1 hope the people will have trust in the leaders that they have voted for. There arc a lot of
vast expanses of water loo overwhelmed me. I now understand why there arc such frequent floods in the pountry."
Ms. Rasi continued,There is an enormous amount of people here when 1 compare thcAi to the five million in my country. I enjoyed watching the multicoloured rickshaws but I found the traffic undisciplined."
She added, “as for the Ideal food it is not different from that in India. I loved the Dhaka fish and vegetables. As for your yogurt I could eat it ah tbc lime. It ts simply wonderful. Talking of clothes. I find ihe sari and shalwar very bcautifnf. I have two 'shalwar-kamc-excs myself which 1 wear at home. I naturally find the Jewellery that the women wear very attractive loo. I don t find the heat in the Subcontinent unbearable as I am used to the hot and humid summers m Ni'w York."
"Bangladesh has a special place in our heart. We have chosen It as one of the main re-cipienls of bilateral cooperation." Ms. Rasi add-
Tbc ambassador, who would low to haw Great Danes us pets, is having her parents flown In to New Delhi for Christmas.