Karim, who was the Bangladeshi ambassador to Egypt and a freedom fighter, died of a heart attack in Cairo on October 29 at the age of 70.

His qulkhwani will be held tomorrow after the Asr prayers at Gulshan Grand Azad Mosque.

Karim's body was flown in from Cairo yesterday noon. Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, Advisor to the Foreign Ministry Reaz Rahman, Privatisation Commission Chairman Inam Ahmed Chowdhury and high officials of the ministry received his body at the Zia International Airport.

Diplomats of different countries paid their last tributes placing wreath on his coffin at the airport.

His body was then taken to his Gulshan house where Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman, former minister AMA Muhith, former secretaries Tabarraq Hossain, M Mohsin, Anwar Hasam, Kaiser Morshed, Masum Ahmed Chowdhury, as well as a number of judges, former secretaries, diplomats, Karim's friends, ex-colleagues and well-wishers paid their tributes.

Commonwealth Society of Bangladesh, Swanirvar Bangladesh, Kushtia District Association, Mir Abdul Karim College, Women Development Foundation were some of the organisations that paid tributes to Karim.

Karim's body was taken to Gulshan Grand Azad Mosque in the afternoon where his namaj-e-janaza was held after the Asr prayers.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, former chief justice Mustafa Kamal, LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Health Minister Khandokar Mosharraf Hossain, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed, Environment and Forest Minister Tariqul Islam, Agriculture Minister MK Anwar, Science and ICT Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, Advisor to the Foreign Ministry Reaz Rahman, Political Secretary to the Prime Minister Haris Chowdhury, former finance minister M Syeduzzaman, former finance secretary Matiul Islam, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and Managing Editor Syed Fahim Munaim, MPs, political leaders and diplomats were among others who attended the namaj-e-janaza.

A number of ministers and diplomats including the Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh signed the condolence book at his residence.

Haris Chowdhury on behalf of the prime minister and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan on behalf of BNP placed wreaths on his grave.

Karim's son Shahed Karim, daughter Sima Karim and a host of relatives and close friends were present during the burial.

Family sources said Taraque Abdal Aziz, representative of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and Deputy Foreign Minister L Hawri placed wreaths on the body on October 31 at Karim's official residence in Cairo.

A large number of Bangladeshi students studying in Cairo University and Al Azhar University also paid homage to Karim there. His first namaj-e-janaza was held at Al Fazli Mosque in the Egyptian capital.

A special prayer and discussion programme in memory of Karim will be held at Hotel Sundarban today at 4:15pm.