[1] Karimunnesa was born in 1855 into a Bengali Muslim family in Rangpur, Bengal Presidency, British Raj.
Her father was Zahiruddin Muhammad Abu Ali Saber, the Zamindar of Payraband Pargana, and her mother was Rahatunnesa Sabera Chaudhurani.
[citation needed] Raised in a traditional Islamic household, Karimunnesa observed the purdah and her early education began with the Quran.
She memorised Persian verses by listening in on her brothers lessons, and learnt English and Bengali through her own effort.
At the age of 67, Karimunnesa learnt the Arabic language in order to gain a better understanding of the Quran.