Abdul Karim was a widely published Bangla Desh soil scientist.

After graduating from Dhaka University with degrees in chemistry, Karim lectured in this field at the university. A UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 fellowship enabled him to obtain a PhD in Soil Science

Soil science

Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.Sometimes terms which...

 at the University of Adelaide

University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...

. After receiving a doctorate there in 1951 he returned to Dhaka University's newly formed Department of Soil Science, becoming department head in 1963.

He was the first head of the Agricultural Chemistry Department at the Bangla Desh at the Bangladesh Agricultural University

Bangladesh Agricultural University

Bangladesh Agricultural University or BAU was established as the only university of its kind in Bangladesh in 1961. The scheme for the establishment of BAU was finalized on 8 June 1961 and its ordinance was promulgated on 18 August 1961...

. He also served as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture.

Karim worked in the fields of biogas

Biogas

Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...

technology; new sources for edible oils; and new techniques for glass production.