[5] Ekram received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 1974.

[2] Her final year thesis project was titled "Tourist Resort at Cox's Bazaar, Chittagong".

She pursued higher education in urban planning and design in the United States, where she earned her graduate degree (MURP) from the University of Hawaii in 1980.

After graduating from the University of Hawaii in Urban and Regional Planning, she worked as assistant architect planner at Honolulu-based Michael T. Suzuki & Associates, from December 1980 to May 1981.

Within this short period of time, she proved her administrative skills and was credited with bringing back the academic discipline by reducing 'session jam' of BUET.

[10] She also patronized and facilitated many extra-curricular activities for the students in an attempt to improve their college experience.

[1] On 11 May 2016, Ekram was admitted to Square Hospital in Dhaka after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma disease.