Ahmed was born in Kutubpur village of Kendua Upazila, Netrokona District. His father was Foyzur Rahman (1921-1971) and mother was Ayesha Foyez (1930-2014). Foyzur was a sub-divisional police officer. He was killed during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Ahmed has two brothers and three sisters. Two of his younger brother Muhammad Zafar Iqbal is a writer and Ahsan Habib is a cartoonist. His sisters are Sufia Haider, Momtaz Shahid and Rukhsana Ahmed.