Background
Hossain was born in Goyeshpur village, in the Bengal Presidency, British India.
Hossain was born in Goyeshpur village, in the Bengal Presidency, British India.
Hossain earned Master of Science degree from University of Dhaka in 1968 and another Master of Science degree from Imperial College (then under University of London) in 1970. He obtained the Doctor of Philosophy degree in geology in 1973 from University of London and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation from Imperial College in 1974.
He was the chairman of the Department of Geology, University of Dhaka from 1987 to 1991. Academic
Hossain joined Dhaka University faculty as Junior Lecturer in the Department of Geology in 1967. He became professor in the same department in 1986.
He was the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Home Affairs during 1991–1996.
Hossain was the chairman of the 56th World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2002. He was awarded with the "World Number Tobacco Award" by the World Health Organization during the 57th WHA for his contribution to the anti-tobacco campaign in Bangladesh.
Politics
He was also the Minister of Health and Family Welfare during the preceding Four Party Alliance government.
Hossain has been a member of the Standing Committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (Banque Nationale de Paris) since 1994. He was elected as a Member of the Jatiyo Sangshad from Comilla – 2 constituency in the national elections several times since 1991.