Born in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Professor Abdul Mannan completed his early education from the St. Placid's High School (Established in 1853), Chittagong, Government College of Commerce, Chittagong, and University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Later he completed his graduate and post graduate studies from the University of Hawaii and the Miami University, Ohio, USA, under the East West Center, US Government Fellowship in 1978. Throughout his academic career he passed all his examinations with extraordinary distinction, always occupying the top position in his class. Later on he attended the Ohio State University and London School of Economics under a World Bank Fellowship and participated in courses relating International Business. He joined the Business School of the University of Chittagong as a Lecturer in 1973. Later he served as the Chairman of the Department of Management and Dean of the Business School in the same University. On November 6, 1996 he was appointed the Vice-chancellor of Chittagong University. He served in this position till February 13, 2001. He was elected as the Chairman of the Association of Universities of Bangladesh and the Standing Committee of the Vice-chancellors (1997-99). During this period Professor Mannan also served as the Executive Committee and Council Member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, London.