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Dhaka Day by Day

Rashdi Comes Home!

By Rahat Fahmida
No not the man with the death sentence around his neck. This Is Mumtaz Rashdl. formerly Mumtaz Khan, a social worker running a farm tn the Pakistan state of Sindh. Originally from Barisal. a close relative of Shcr-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haque, Mumtaz Rashdl. visited her homeland after a long time, heading a delegation from Pakistan
While talking about this visit to The Daily Star. Rashdl said, the delegation was here to attend a conference on family planning. Pakistan looks at Bangladesh's family planning programme as a big success. She herself was so overwhelmed to see the progress In her own country that she almost lost track of her priorities.
Mumtaz Rashdi. now about 60. the wife of a one time noted Journalist and later a diplomat of Pakistan. Late. Peer All Mohammed Rashdi. she has been running a regional non-government organisation since 1966. Setting up this organisation called SamaJ Sudhar Tchrik in Sindh, her initial programme concentrated mainly and solely with rural women. This has now expanded to various fields, ranging from topography to income generation through five stocks.
Mumtaz Rashdl. who has been actively involved in development work for over 25 years said. "Development approach is a broad statc-1 ment on how Interventions are to be delivered from the sources of inputs lo the receiver In order to meet development goals and specific objectives.
"Human approach, which is essentially important. assumes that the people know best *thetr changing needs and priorities. .Therefore, the technician who believes tn this approach first spends his/her time learning
the needs and priorities of the people before Introducing Improved technologies. The Initial act of the technician under their approach is to learn, rather than to teach. The ultimate objective of the technician is to develop the knowledge, attitude, and skill of the people toward self reliance. The social or human side of rural development Is significant in order to reach and understand the grass root of any problem."
"I don't believe in working alone. I strongly believe In linkage. I think linkage Is the main way of success." She works closely with social welfare departments and believes not to be In competition with other non-government organisations.
As an active social and development worker of Bengali origin. Rashdl confidently said It is not difficult for her to work In Pakistan. The main reason for this is the way her husband presented her to the people in his country. The people In Sindh respect me and have great confidence on my doings. Their expectations arc high, because 1 am a Bengali."
Mumtaz Rashdl feels there is a wide media gap between Bangladesh and Pakistan There Is not much of communication between the two countries. She stressed that this gap should be fulfilled and both countries ought to be informed about the other's success stories.
As a humanist. Rashdl has great Interest in archeology. Her family life demands quite a bit of her time with one son and a daughter and three young grand-children. Being involved with a number of other organisations and trustees. Mumtaz Rashdl still finds time to contribute to her colupin in one of the leading newspapers of Pakistan — 'Dawn'.