DHAKA, April 19, 2024 (BSS) - A milad mahfil for late Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, eminent journalist and 1971 veteran Ihsanul Karim Helal was held after Asr prayers today at his Alenbari Officer's Quarter residence in the capital.

High officials of the government, including Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain and Prime Minister's Speech Writer Md. Nazrul Islam, late Karim's family members, relatives, colleagues, well-wishers and admirers attended the milad mahfil.

Later, munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed soul.
On March 10, Ihsanul Karim passed away at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at age 74.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.

Born in November, 1949 to a respectable Muslim family in Kushtia district, Ihsanul Karim obtained his master's degree in economics from Dhaka University and Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the same university.

Later, he also received post graduate degree on Development Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).

He was president of IIMC Alumni Association, Bangladesh chapter until his death.
Karim joined the Liberation War in 1971 and fought in the western frontier as a member of the Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF).

On June 15, 2015 he was appointed as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Press Secretary for one year on contract basis and the appointment was extended for three years on June 16, 2016. His appointment as the PM's press secretary was extended for another three years from June 18, 2019.

Prior to his appointment in the Prime Minister's Office, Karim served as the press secretary to the President and ahead of that, he served as the chief editor and managing director of national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), where he made his debut in the career as a staff reporter in 1972.

He also served as New Delhi correspondent of BSS for five years.

During his long career in journalism, Karim also served several foreign media like Bangla service of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and Press Trust of India (PTI) as Bangladesh correspondent.