Iftikharul Karim

Karim completed his undergraduate studies in Physics at the University of Dhaka.^[4] He later obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Karachi.^[4] From 1978 to 1980, he participated in the Fulbright Exchange Program at the Institute of International Studies, University of South Carolina.^[4] His father was photographer G. M. M. E. Karim (died in 1999).^[5][6]

Karim entered diplomatic service as a member of the Pakistan Foreign Service before Bangladesh's independence.^[4] Following 1971, he joined the Bangladesh Civil Service (Foreign Affairs cadre) and served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.^[4]

Karim's early overseas assignments included postings at Bangladesh missions in Stockholm, Ankara, and the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva.^[4] He later served in Washington, D.C., where he held the position of Political Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Bangladesh.^[4]

Karim was subsequently posted to Seoul and Beijing in senior diplomatic roles.^[4] From 2000 to 2002, he served as Bangladesh's Ambassador to South Korea.^[4][7] In 2002, the Government of South Korea awarded him the Order of the Diplomatic Service Merit (Gwanghwa Medal) in recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and South Korea.^[4]

Karim was later appointed Ambassador of Bangladesh to the People’s Republic of China from 2002 to 2003.^[4] During this tenure, he was concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Mongolia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.^[4]

Karim is a member of The Dhaka Forum.^[4]