[1] Abul Ahsan secured first class in M.A in economics from the Dhaka University (1959) and M.A in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (1962).

[citation needed] He was the first secretary-general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (1987–89)[3] as well as Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh (1989–91).

From 1996 to 1999, he served as a member of the executive board of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

He was chairperson of the Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (FEMA) and was involved in governance and election-related activities for several years, and also held the position of President of Center for Democracy a citizen's organization devoted to the promotion of good governance and democracy.

[citation needed] Abul Ahsan represented Bangladesh at a large number of meetings and conferences including UN General Assembly and Security Council Sessions, Summit and Ministerial level meetings of the Commonwealth, the Non-aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).