Dacca Daze

It might have been the other side of the moon. In 1960, Dhaka (then known as 'Dacca'), East Pakistan (now known as Bangladesh) was, for all practical purposes, almost that far removed from the consciousness of the American people. Geographically, it was certainly on the other side of the world globe from American cities like Chicago or Philadelphia, for example. In the late '50s and early '60s, any news emanating from that part of the world was considered pretty far out.

Amidst the political intrigue and social upheaval that was further complicated by the Cold War in the early sixties, Barry Nemcoff, a former news reporter from Philadelphia, arrived in Dacca, East Pakistan with his wife and infant children in tow on an assignment with the U. S. Information Agency. The purpose of the agency’s work: To tell America's story, spread its technical and scientific know-how, and contribute to the development of a nation.

What follows are the recollections of one ordinary American citizen who spent two years on the subcontinent, literally plucked out of American society and thrust, almost overnight, into a strange culture whose language and way of life was as esoteric to him and his family as anything coming out of fiction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
BARRY R. NEMCOFF spent the Second World War serving on a minesweeper and became a newspaperman after graduating from Temple University. A CBS Fellowship under Edward R. Murrow would propel him on a television news career that took him from news director at WCAU in Philiadelphia to “Good Morning America” and then later becoming ABC News’ Chicago Bureau Chief where he would launch “World News Tonight” with Frank Reynolds, Max Robinson and Peter Jennings. After winning a Cine Golden Eagle for his documentary on Alaskan sled dogs, he was appointed Assistant Dean of Communications at his alma mater. Eventually, he would return to television, later retiring as the Executive Producer of PBS’ “Nightly Business Report.”