M. Fazlul Karim is a retired Ambassador and Secretary belonging to 1984 BCS (Foreign Affairs) batch. Obtaining BSS (Honours) degree from the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University securing First Class First position, Ambassador Karim received Chancellor’s Award. He completed Masters in International Relations from the same University and secured First Class First position. Ambassador Karim did a post graduate degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at the International Institute of Public Administration in Paris and was awarded Felicitations du Jury. He pursued a Course on Public International Law at the Hague Academy of International Law and attended a number of programs on International Development Issues, Law of the Seas, Trade Representation and UN Peace Keeping Operations.
In his long diplomatic career, Ambassador Karim served in various places including in New York, Jakarta, Washington, Islamabad and Hong Kong as First Secretary, Counselor, Deputy High Commissioner and Consul General. He served as Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Italy (with concurrent accreditation to Greece, Albania and Serbia), Saudi Arabia (with concurrent accreditation to Sudan and Ethiopia), Jordan (with Syria, Lebanon and Palestine), Mexico and China (with North Korea and Mongolia) and was Permanent Representative to FAO, IFAD, WFP and OIC. Ambassador Karim was elected Vice-Chair of IFAD and Chairman of the Asian Group at FAO. He was intensely involved in the negotiations of the final documents in preparatory committee meetings of Rio Earth Summit, ICPD and Social Summit. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he worked in International Organizations, South Asia, SAARC, UN and Administration Divisions in various capacities. He attended a number of UNGA sessions and represented Bangladesh in numerous international and regional meetings, seminars and conferences. He has taken classes on UN, South Asia, Negotiation, etc. at various universities and training institutes at home and abroad and written pieces on international issues. Ambassador Karim is fluent in French and speaks some Arabic and Spanish.