Speaker

Ambassador (retd) Tariq A Karim

Tariq Ahmed Karim is a distinguished Bangladeshi diplomat and former ambassador, recognized for his pivotal role in shaping Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Educated at St. Gregory’s High School, Notre Dame College, and the University of Dhaka, he later earned a postgraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Karim joined the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1967 and went on to serve Bangladesh in several key diplomatic postings. As Additional Foreign Secretary (1995–1997), he led negotiations with India on Ganges water-sharing, culminating in the landmark 30-year treaty of 1996. Over his career, he represented Bangladesh as High Commissioner to South Africa and India, and concurrently in Botswana, Lesotho, and Namibia, as well as serving as Ambassador to the United States. Beyond diplomacy, he has contributed to policy research as Chairman of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and currently serves as Director of the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies at Independent University, Bangladesh.