Piash Karim passes away

Controversial TV commentator and BRAC University teacher Piash Karim has died after suffering cardiac arrest on Monday.

He was rushed to the Square Hospital at around 5:30am after he had fallen ill.

“He died before he was brought to the hospital. We believe he suffered a heart attack, as evident from our tests," Dr Mallika Sarker of the hospital's Emergency Department told bdnews24.com.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia offered condolence to the bereaved family in a statement.

She went to Karim's Dhanmondi residence at night and spoke to his wife and son and other family members.

Senior BNP leaders, including acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, visited the grieving family at Karim's Dhanmondi residence.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus said he was "shocked" at the death of this "fearless, principled intellectual".

He said the death of Karim, who was dedicated to “speaking truth”, was a great loss.

Karim’s body, his family said, would be kept at the hospital’s morgue until Tuesday and would be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar on Wednesday for people to pay their last respects.

His funeral prayers will be held at the Baitul Mokarram National Mosque after Wednesday's Zohr prayers.

A decision about burial will be taken after his three sisters come home from abroad.

Karim taught at BRAC University’s Department of Economics and Social Science.

Journalist, researcher and BRAC University teacher Afsan Chowdhury said Piash Karim got involved with the camp of Leftist writers and Marxist movement after independence. He studied the subject abroad.

Originally from Comilla, he shot into limelight for his performance on television panel discussions.

His father Advocate MA Karim was one of the influential members of the infamous Peace Committee in Comilla during the 1971 Liberation War.

The Razakars, an auxiliary force set up to back Pakistan's army against the Mukti Bahini, were mobilised through the Peace Committees across Bangladesh.

Karim faced considerable flak for criticising the mass uprising in Shahbagh to demand maximum punishment for war criminals.

He was widely criticised for his controversial remarks over the trial processes of the International Crimes Tribunal.

Karim's wife Amena Mohsin teaches at Dhaka University's International Relations Department.

He left behind a son from a previous marriage.