I had the privilege of learning at his feet in Dhaka and working as his colleague in Chittagong University for a short spell, respectively, in the late 1950s and early 1970s. However, the contact continued later as I met him from time to time in Chittagong and Dhaka. I developed a great liking and respect for him as an outstanding teacher, a caring colleague, and a great human being, easily accessible, amiable and with a simple life style. I presented him a neck tie in 1973, but he kept wearing it throughout his life (maybe this was the only neck tie he had). That he was a brilliant teacher will be, I am sure, the unanimous view of all his students in Dhaka and Chittagong University.

Professor Karim had a checkered career. Born in 1928 in Chittagong, he did his Masters in History from Dhaka University in 1950 and the next year he joined the same university as a lecturer. He continued teaching in Dhaka till 1966 when he joined the newly established University of Chittagong as the first Head of the Department of History. Meanwhile he obtained two Ph.D. degrees, one from the University of Dhaka and the other from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. Though basically a research scholar and a teacher, he held many administrative posts.

As a researcher Professor Karim specialised in the medieval history of Bengal - its political, social, religious and economic life, its inscriptions, coins and literature. He was eminently qualified for this job as he knew both Persian and Arabic very well. He had to his credit a large number of publications: 36 books and about 200 articles in English and Bangla. The articles were published in standard research journals at home and abroad. In recognition of his outstanding scholarship, he was awarded Akbar Gold Medal by the Indian Numismatic Society, Peace Award by the International Association for Religious Freedom, Ekushey Padak by the government of Bangladesh and Gold Medals by the Bangladesh History Association and the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

In Professor Karim's death the nation has lost a brilliant teacher, a dedicated historian and an able administrator. Unfortunately his death will also mean the virtual end of our long and rich tradition of research in medieval history. It would also mean a huge loss personally for me, because he was a sincere well-wisher.

We pray for the salvation of his departed soul.