Ali was born on 6 February 1943 in Daktarpara, Khamar Bishnuganj (Tangua Post Office), Khansama, Dinajpur (now in Bangladesh).

He was executive assistant to Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Chief Overseas Representative of the Mujibnagar government, and leader of the Bangladesh delegation to the United Nations.

[citation needed] After the declaration of Bangladesh's independence, Ali served as representative to the United Nations and later as Acting Consul-General in New York City.

At the foreign ministry, from 1979 to 1982, Ali served as Director-General for Administration, for International Organisations, for United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, for Policy Planning for South Asia, and for Human Rights.

[citation needed] As Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral), Ali handled South Asia and Human Rights among other subjects.

[4] After retiring from active diplomatic service, in April 2001, Ali entered politics, joining the Bangladesh Awami League.

[citation needed] In December 2008, Ali was elected to parliament as an Awami League candidate, representing a rural constituency in Dinajpur, in northern Bangladesh.