Hossain was born in a wealthy Bengali Muslim family of Paltan at Dacca, Bengal Province of then British India.

He attended his primary level education from Pogose School before admitting at PAF College Lower Topa.

In April 1971 he defected to East Pakistan in order to participate in Bangladesh Liberation War.

He was a liaison officer between the Mukti Bahini and the Indian Air Force, and was stationed in Sector 6.

His next appointment was as Group Captain and Defence Attache at the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow, Russia where he spent 3.5 years with his wife and children.