[1] Born in Nabinagar Upazila of Brahmanbaria District on 5 January 1935, Zahir completed his Matriculation examination from Salgram High School in 1952.

[6][7] He also helped Central Printing finish as runners-up in the league during his final spell in 1958 and in the same year, played in the IFA Shield as a guest player for Mohammedan SC.

[8][2] He played in the finals of Pakistan's Independence Day Cup thirteen times and came out as champion on four different editions, all of them representing the Black and Whites.

[16][1] The following year, he represented Pakistan against the touring China national team, under fellow East Pakistani, coach Sheikh Shaheb Ali.

[14] In 1964, he participated in the China Independence Day Cup and also appeared in three exhibition games against Neftçi PFK (formerly Neftyanik) from Baku, Soviet Union.

[2] In September 2016, Zahir was admitted to Ayesha Memorial Hospital in Mohakhali, Dhaka, after suffering from kidney complications.

He was initially admitted to the hospital on 4 January due to heart complications and fell into a coma on his 89th birthday, the following day.