[5] The son of Ziarat Hossain Khan and Zohra Khatun, who lived in Singair Upazila, Manikganj District, Ataur Rahman was born on 11 December 1928.

After enrolling in Dhaka Medical College, a career he later decided not to pursue, he made an attempt to escape from the family home and join the film industry.

[2] As a result of Ataur Rahman's bohemian attitudes, he left Dhaka University in 1949 and ran away from home for the second time.

He met Jyoti Studio's cameraman Jal Irani, who gave Ataur Rahman the chance to work as an apprentice but it was not satisfying enough for him.

At this time, Ata started taking music lessons from renowned Pakistani Sarnagi player Jawahari Khan.

In 1956, he returned home and starred in a film called Jago Hua Severa directed by AJ Karder.

[1] In 1963, Ataur Rahman made his directorial debut with the film Anek Diner Chena, and continued making many notable films like Nawab Sirajuddaula (1967), Sat Bhai Champa (1968), Arun Barun Kironmala (1968), Abar Tora Manush Ho (1973), Sujon Sokhi (1975), Ekhono Onek Raat (1997).

[3] When he was in London, completing a higher course in Cinematography, he met an English woman named Shirley and married her.