Diamond Under Polish

Sheikh Hasina’s ace in the hole in the present government is her young foreign minister, Dr Dipu Moni. A doctor and lawyer with a masters in public health from Johns Hopkins University, she is the best face that Bangladesh has offered to build up its global diplomacy network after the almost two-year stint of the military-backed caretaker government. Her strong secular credentials give her a major role to play in the emerging global scenario. Equally brilliant and self-effacing is her husband, the well-known constitutional lawyer Tawfique Nawaz, one of two Oxbridge-educated Bangladeshi lawyers, and who plays the flute impressively. Dr Dipu Moni has been learning fast on her job—after all, a first-time MP has to be conversant with how government and parliament functions. She is a role model to a number of budding professionals who still feel politics is within the reach of ordinary middle-class people. And that it’s not something to be shunned. Bangladeshi politics over the years has been marred by violence and the growing influence of fundamentalism. The present government, with a host of first-time MPs as ministers, has attempted to stem the rot and introduce freshness and vigour. Dr Dipu Moni stands out amongst the lot. Her simplicity, acumen and credibility make it difficult to oppose her. And quite winsomely, she is also mastering the violin—the teacher is none other than Tawfique.