Ali was born in his maternal home in Allahabad, Bihar on 9 March 1934.
[1] His father, Abul Hossain, was a doctor and a captain in the British Indian Army.
He was posted in Thana Health Complex in Comilla, where he worked for two years.
The area was majority Bihari and was the site of frequent conflict between them and Bengalis.
[1] On 8 April 1971, Pakistan Army accompanied by Biharis raided his house and abducted him.