{{short description|Bangladeshi political scientist (b. 1958, d. 2014)}} thumb|Piash Karim '''Manjur Karim Piash''' ({{langx|bn|মনজুর করিম পিয়াস}}; 1958 – October 13, 2014) popularly known as '''Piash Karim''' was a professor, researcher and political commentator with specializations in political economy, political sociology, nationalism and social theory.<ref name="ds14Oct2014" /><ref name="bracu" /> After Bangladesh achieved independence, he completed his bachelor's degree from the University of Dhaka and went to the US for higher studies. In his long career as a teacher, he taught at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Culver–Stockton College and BRAC University.<ref name="bracu" /> ==Early life and education== Karim was born in 1958 in Comilla. His father M.A. Karim was a member of the founding committee of the Comilla unit of the Awami League, and served as the treasurer of the Awami League district unit for a long time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Minister: Piash's father helped freedom fighters in 1971 |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/83245/minister-piash%E2%80%99s-father-helped-freedom-fighters |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune |date=October 14, 2014}}</ref> His uncle served as the second inspector general of police.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bangladesh Police |url=https://www.police.gov.bd/en/former_igp?page=3 |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=www.police.gov.bd}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History as Ethical Remembrance: Dhaka University, Shaheed Minar and CP Gang's 'Bessha' Banner Part: I and II {{!}} Rahnuma Ahmed |url=https://www.newageislam.com/islamterrorism-jihad/rahnuma-ahmed/history-ethical-remembrance-dhaka-university-shaheed-minar-cp-gangs-bessha-banner-part-i-ii/d/105247 |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=www.newageislam.com |language=en}}</ref> Piash Karim received his primary education from Comilla Modern School and secondary education from Comilla Zilla School. He completed his higher secondary education from Adamjee Cantonment College, Dhaka.<ref name="na14Oct2014">{{cite news |title=Piash Karim passes away |url=http://archive.newagebd.net/57353/piash-karim-passes-away |newspaper=New Age |date=October 14, 2014 |access-date=October 13, 2018 |archive-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724002116/http://archive.newagebd.net/57353/piash-karim-passes-away/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Later, Karim obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dhaka. He completed his master's degree and PhD in sociology at Kansas State University after moving to the United States.<ref name="ds14Oct2014">{{cite news |title=Piash Karim passes away |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/piash-karim-passes-away-45593 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=October 14, 2014}}</ref> He was arrested by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 for distributing leaflets in favour of the freedom movement of Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan army detained Piash Karim for supporting war, says law minister |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/pakistan-army-detained-piash-karim-for-supporting-war-says-law-minister |newspaper=Bdnews24.com |date=October 19, 2014}}</ref>

==Career== Karim, after completing his master's degree and PhD, served as a faculty member of two American universities for seventeen years.<ref name="bracu">{{cite news |title=Professor Piash Karim |url=https://www.bracu.ac.bd/about/people/professor-piash-karim |newspaper=BRAC University |date=October 14, 2014 |access-date=October 13, 2018 |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720084103/https://www.bracu.ac.bd/about/people/professor-piash-karim |url-status=dead}}</ref> He joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as a faculty member. Later, he worked as an associate professor at Culver–Stockton College, Missouri for another few years. In 2007, he returned to Bangladesh and joined BRAC University as a professor in the Economics and Social Sciences Department. In Bangladesh, he wrote several articles on nationalist politics, civil society and media activism.<ref name="bracu" />

=== Views === Karim was opposed to the Shahbag protests and criticized the neutrality of the International Crimes Tribunal.

==Personal life and death== Karim was married to Amena Mohsin, a professor of international relations at the University of Dhaka. On October 13, 2014, he died of cardiac arrest on his way to Square Hospital from his home at the age of 56.<ref name="na14Oct2014" /> Nobel Laureate and prominent economist Muhammad Yunus mourned his sudden death, terming him as a "fearless and principled intellectual".<ref>{{cite news |title=Yunus mourns Piash Karim |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/yunus-mourns-piash-karim |newspaper=Bdnews24.com |date=October 14, 2014}}</ref> After his death, the Awami League-oriented organizations threatened to desecrate his body if it was brought to the Shaheed Minar.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-10-13 |title=Piash Karim dies; protests set at Shaheed Minar |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/bangladesh-others/82451/piash-karim-dies-protests-set-at-shaheed-minar |access-date=2022-03-20 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Give space to opposing voices |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/opinion/Give-space-to-opposing-voices |access-date=2022-03-20 |work=Prothom Alo |date=October 20, 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karim, Piash}} Category:1958 births Category:2014 deaths Category:University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty Category:People from Homna Upazila Category:University of Dhaka alumni Category:Culver–Stockton College faculty Category:Academic staff of BRAC University Category:Comilla Zilla School alumni Category:Adamjee Cantonment College alumni