Chittagong, Bangladesh: Former Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University (CU) and eminent historian of sub-continent and also the well-wisher of Rohingya people, Professor Abdul Karim passed away (Innan Lillahe Wa-inna-Elahe Rageon ) at a clinic in Chittagong yesterday noon, according to his family.
He was 79. He was suffering from old age complications. He left behind his wife, two sons, one daughter and a host of grandchildren to mourn his death. He was a renowned historian and wrote many Historical books including two Rohingya historical books. The two books are:- “The Rohingyas: A short account of their history and culture” and “Coming of the Muslims to Arakan”. There was also a close relationship between the Rohingya elites and Late Dr. Abdul Karim.
According to his family sources, he had been undergoing treatment at a hospital at Chittagong as he became ill. He died at 2.45 pm yesterday.
Born in an aristocratic Muslim family at Chapachari under Banshkhali upazila in the district of Chittagong, he obtained Masters Degree from Dhaka University . He completed his Ph.D from Dhaka and London . He was educated in the Chittagong Islamic Intermediate College, Dhaka and London Universities . He was in the teaching staff of the Dhaka and Chittagong Universities and was for same years a senior Fellow in the Rajshahi University . He, in turn, occupied the posts of Professor of History, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Vice-Chancellor of the Chittagong University . He has so far published 29 books (9 in English and 20 in Bengali) and more than 200 articles both in Bengali and English. He was the author of many books including Indian History and History of Banshkhali. His books and research papers were well recognized all over the world.
He was involved with Bangladesh History Association, Bangla Academy and many other organizations. He was working for researching the history of the country and the sub continent till the last day of his life.
His first Namaj-e-Janaja is held at Hill View mosque at 9 a.m today and the second Namaz-e-Janaja is also held at Jamiatul Falah mosque premises at 9.30 a.m.
It is really a great loss of the helpless Rohingyas because he tried his best to make the world understand about the reality of Rohingya people by his presentation of historical evidences. In fact, Late Dr. Abdul Karim was a great partner of the displaced Rohingya people. The Rohingya people would never forget his contributions, said A, Alam from Chittagong .
“I am really shocked to hear the demise of Professor A. Karim. We lost a real friend. We are praying for the salvation of the departed soul”, said Nurul Islam, the President of Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO).
“I am really shocked to hear the sad demise of Professor Abdul Karim. He was one of the best known historians as of our time who had produced some of the best scholarly writings on history of our area, especially Chittagong and arakan. His death is an unfathomable loss to all those who benefited from his neutral and objective of history, especially to the Rohingya people who are still fighting for their identity in the land of their ancestors,” said Dr. Habib Siddiqui, director, the Arakan-Burma Research Institute, New York, USA.
