Born on May 19, 1924, in Taranagar of Murshidabad district, Nurjahan Murshid had schooling in Barisal and Calcutta before she did her master's from Calcutta University.

Her appointment as headmistress of Syedunnessa Girls' High School in Barisal in 1946 marked the beginning of a distinguished career in women's education that took her to different educational institutions including Kamrunnessa School, Viqarunnisa Noon School, Holy Cross College and Dhaka University.

Before partition of the subcontinent, she joined All India Radio as a broadcaster and the first female officer, and continued in the same post in Radio Pakistan following partition.

Her active participation in politics saw her elected as a female lawmaker on United Front ticket in the 1954 parliamentary elections in the then Pakistan. In 1970, she was again elected to parliament from Awami League.

Married to Khan Sarwar Murshid in 1948, Nurjahan Murshid along with her husband made significant contribution to the cause of Liberation War. She met with the then Indian president VV Giri and prime minister Indira Gandhi for the recognition of Bangladesh. To that effect, she also delivered a speech in both Houses of the Indian parliament prompting the Pakistan military junta to sentence her to 14 years in prison in absentia and confiscate all her properties.

In 1972, she joined Bangabandhu's cabinet as state minister for health and social welfare and was elected member of the country's first elected parliament in 1973.