banu was born in pabna, pabna district, east bengal, british raj. her father washim uddin ahmad was a member of the bengal legislative council. she joined the communist study group. she graduated from pabna girl's school in 1943 and from pabna edward college in 1945. she finished her masters from pabna edward college in 1949. she graduated from dhaka teacher's training college in 1961. she worked in food and shelter houses managed by the women's self-defence association during the 1943 bengal famine.