Ihsanul Karim takes over as prime minister’s press secretary

Ihsanul Karim has joined office as the new press secretary of the prime minister on the day of her return from UK.

Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Md Ashraful Alam told journalists that Karim came to the PMO on Thursday morning and met with his new colleagues. 

He was appointed to the position for a year on the condition that he gives up ties to all other institutions, according to a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Monday.

He was managing director and chief editor of state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. He also served two years as the press secretary to President Md Abdul Hamid, before his contract ended on May 25.

He replaces AKM Shameem Chowdhuri. a former director general of the Department of Film and Publications, who was appointed as the prime minister’s press secretary on Jun 3 last year.

Chowdhury was axed because the prime minister is not happy with him, according to several media reports, and was made director general of the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC).

Chowdhuri, a 1982 batch information cadre recruit, has served as the director general of Bangladesh Betar and principal information officer of the Press Institute of Bangladesh.