Masud was born on 6 December 1956 in Nurpur village, Bhanga Upazila, Faridpur District, East Pakistan. He grew up in Nurpur village and started his education in an Islamic school (madrasah). He studied in the madrassa system for eight years, until the upheaval brought about by the 9-month Liberation War interrupted his education in 1971. After the war, he entered general education, completing his HSC from Notre Dame College and completed his master's degree in History from the University of Dhaka.