Her interest in photography began at a very early age when her sister bought her a Rolleicord camera.

Khanam completed her master's degree in Bengali literature and library science from the University of Dhaka.

Besides Ray, she also did portraits of figures such as Queen Elizabeth, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

[6] Khanam worked as a librarian in seminar library of Bengali Literature department of University of Dhaka from 1974 to 1986.

[6] Her works on Mother Teresa, Rabindra Sangeet singer Konika Bandopadhaya and Satyajit Ray were also exhibited in Dhaka.