His research focused on medicinal plants, molecular biology as well as genetic engineering and was conferred with the Order of Distinction in 2024 for his role in enhancing agricultural production in the Caribbean.

Ahmad was born to a Shaikh family on January 9, 1946, in Colgong (present-day Kahalgaon) in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar Province, British India.

[citation needed] He received his basic education in Bhagalpur, where he also attended Bihar Agricultural University and graduated in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in science.

[citation needed] He established the Biotechnology Centre, a research unit within the Faculty of Science and Technology at the Mona campus of the university[8][9] through grants from European communities and served as its first director from June 1990 until his retirement in September 2011.

In October 2024, following the 62nd Jamaican Independence Day, he was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander for his contribution in Jamaica to the field of agricultural sciences and genetic engineering.