He was born in November 7, 1922 at Lakxmi Bazar Shah Shaheb Bari in Dhaka, the house of his maternal grandfather, the late Shah Shaheb. He received his masters in political science from Dhaka University.

He was a popular student leader in his student life. He became an Assistant Secretary of East Pakistan Cultural Union for the term 1945-1946. He was elected Secretary General of the Hall Union of famous Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall of Dhaka University for the term 1946-47 and the Secretary General of Dhaka University Central Students Union for 1947-48 and 1948-49 terms.

Professor Ghulam Azam played a leading role in the Language Movement of the country. In November 1948, he submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on behalf of the students of Dhaka University demanding the state language status for Bangla. The movement continued, he was arrested in charge of the movement in 1952 and 1955, and at a stage the government had to declare Bangla as a state language of Pakistan.

Although educated in the general education, Professor Ghulam Azam was a practicing Muslim from his childhood. He came in touch with the political and cultural thinking of Islam through a cultural organisation named 'Tamaddun Mozlish'. While a teacher of Political Science in Rangpur Kermichle College, he founded a branch of 'Tamaddun Majlish' in Rangpur in 1952.

His quest for leading the life of a complete Muslim took him to Tablig Jamaat. He was the Ameer of Tablig Jamaat of Rangpur for the period of 1951-1954. His separate experiences with 'Tamaddun Majlish' and 'Tablig Jamaat' increased his longing for an organisation that covers both the spiritual and sociopolitical aspects of Islam. He found Jamaat-e-Islami at last.

He became the Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami of East Pakistan in 1957. He was thrown to jail in 1964 by the military rules Ayub Khan. He played a key role in the formation of Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) in 1967. It was all party democratic resistance movement against the military rule of Ayub Khan. He was the Secretary General of the Executive Committee of East Pakistan Wing of PDM. He became the Ameer of East Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami in 1969.

Like all other Islamic parties and groups, he did not support the Liberation War of Bangladesh. The reasons for not supporting the Liberation War of 1971 was - he did not believe that independence from Pakistan would solve our problem. He believed in self-rule or autonomy and continued to campaign in favour of that. His main opposition to the Liberation War was that it was fully surrounded by India and therefore, gaining independence with India's support would result in the country being indirectly controlled and ruled by India. He feared that India would become a bully and would do everything in its power to dominate the politics and economy of the country.

Soon after the liberation, the new government started its campaign of uprooting Islam and democracy from Bangladesh. The government deleted the word 'Muslim' and 'Islam' from names of educational institutes, banned Islam-based politics, arrested and tortured noted Islamic leaders and scholars. Professor Ghulam Azam's very citizenship was canceled and he had to spend his life in exile till 1978.

He was declared as the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami in 1991. He was sent to jail in 1992 and later released by the order of the court. The Supreme Court reinstated his citizenship in 1994.

He retired from active politics in 2000. Currently, he has engaged himself in original writings and providing guidance to the Islamic thinker and politicians of Bangladesh.

Contact Address and Telephone Number:

129/2 Kazi Office Lane
Bara Maghbazar
Dhaka - 1207
Bangladesh

Phone: 88-02-9331074