Two of his long poems, Aami-Kingbodontir-Kathaa Bolchi and Bristi O Shahosi Purush-er Jonyo Prarthona, have become famous since their first publication in the late 1970s.

He received his primary education in Mymensingh town where his father Abdul Jabbar Khan was working as the district judge.

Obaidullah was promoted as Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh in 1976 and after retiring in 1982, he accepted the position of Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources in 1982.

He composed "Kono Ek Ma-key" ("To a Mother") for the first anthology on Ekushey, which is recited at the Central Shaheed Minar on 21 February every year.

Also, "Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Smriti Pathagar" (memorial library) was established in Babuganj of Barisal in 2003.