ahmed started his teaching career in 1948 as a lecturer at jagannath college, dhaka. later, he was a lecturer, reader, and then professor of history at rajshahi university. he was also a professor of history at jahangir nagar university and dhaka university, the job from which he retired in 1984. in 1963, ahmed was invited by the american historical association as a visiting lecturer in south asian history at the university of pennsylvania and the university of chicago. he was also unesco cultural fellow at kyoto university, japan in 1956. ahmed was also associated with independent university, bangladesh as professor of national culture and heritage, and served as the president of the national association of social sciences of bangladesh, and chairman of the united nations association of bangladesh.