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The Symphony of our Times

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

The import of the observations of Brigadier El Idrus came alive to me within a week of his visit to Brahmanbaria. As mentioned, his trip along the north-eastern frontier of the then East Pakistan in November 1969 was for the purpose of reconnaissance. In his words, it was for surveying the security and defence potential ...

The Symphony of our Times

Negotiating with the environment

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

The daylight hours had a different texture. They were full of varied and divert business. The daily work of the sub-divisional officer consisted of magisterial, revenue and development activities. We were advised by our seniors that as chief executive of the sub-division, we needed to keep ourselves well informed of the happenings in our jurisdiction. ...

The Symphony of our Times

Nabinagar by river

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

It was on a sunlit late November day when I boarded my official launch for the trip to Nabinagar. The thana was not only home of several well known politicians like Shafiqul Islam of the Council Muslim League but also class friend Md Habibullah, friend and batch mate in the civil service, Akbar Ali Khan. ...

The Symphony of our Times

Pool of superior civil servants

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

The Brahmanbaria sub-division was not only distinctive in its people's urge for cooperative social service but also its popular interest in education. Probably as a result of people's stress on quality education, it produced several distinguished members of the erstwhile Civil Service of Pakistan. As already mentioned, entry into these superior job of the central ...

The Symphony Of Our Times

Night on the river

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

It was not easy to move about in the rural depths of Banchharampur on a fairly cold winter night. My colleagues and I, however, went around the thana headquarters and the TTDC as the darkness was partially removed by the light of powerful lanterns. As we came back from the round, the UP chairman humbly ...

The Symphony of our Times

Testing times in civil service

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

As SDO, the execution of my plan for negotiating with the official environment was largely satisfactory. So was the communication with the elite of Brahmanbaria, social and opinion leaders. All this greatly helped me in the performance of my work. Nevertheless, since books and theoretical training did not provide adequate knowledge of practical reality and ...

The Symphony of our Times

Stepping into a new realm: SDO Brahmanbaria

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

Brahmanbaria, a fabled sub-division from the British colonial times was a prized postings for young civil servants of the elite cadre - ICS/CSP. Before it became a district in February 1984, it had been a proud part of the greater Comilla district. There were certain sub-divisions in British Bengal and East Pakistan which were distinctive. ...

The Symphony of our Times

Comments of contemporaries

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

Writing about my closing days in Dhaka collectorate in late 1969 I feel compelled to take a little detour. This is because of some of the avid readers of the 'Symphony of our times' who send me their inspiring comments which need to broadcast. Among these distinguished readers are my friends in London Amir Khausru, ...

The Symphony of our Times

Bengali army officers in Ramna

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

From 1969-1970 some of our seniors who were commissioned in the army also came to the Ramna Restaurant at regular intervals. Among them were young officers such as Nurul Islam (Shishu), Sadeque Ahmed Choudhury, M Nuruzzaman, all of whom later became major generals in the army of the liberated Bangladesh. They came in civilian dress ...

The Symphony of our Times

Lively gatherings in scenic settings

Mizanur Rahman Shelley

One of our favourite haunts from 1963 to 1970 and beyond up to 1975 was the attractive Ramna Restaurant right on the bank of the charming Ramna Lake. The lake itself is a serpentine and tranquil water body set against the backdrop of a sprawling garden. It is dotted by shady trees spreading their branches ...