Enamul Hossain was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 1981. He began playing chess at an early age, thanks to his father. He participated in his first chess competition in 1993, which started his passion for the game. Hossain only had two chess books since they were difficult to get in Bangladesh at the time. He thoroughly examined the books by reading them many times. This aided in his tactical improvement. Micha Krasenkow coached Hossain in 1995, which was the only official guidance he had gotten. That same year, at the age of 15, he represented Bangladesh in the Chess Olympiad.

At the age of 16, Hossain won the Bangladesh Chess Championship, beating more experienced players. In 2002, he was awarded the renowned International Master title, and in 2008, he was awarded the highest Grandmaster title. Hossain qualified for the Chess World Cup in 2007, when he overcame a considerably better-ranked opponent to advance to the second round, becoming the first Bangladeshi to do so. In April 2009, he had a chess rating of 2531. Throughout his career, Hossain has won various competitions, including one in which he defeated 17 Grandmasters in India in 2012. In 1997, 2006, 2016, 2017, and 2019, he won the Bangladesh Chess Championship 6th times.