Zillur Rahman was born on 9 March 1929 in Bhairab Upazila, Kishoreganj District,[6] his mother's paternal home.

[5] Zillur Rahman's early education started at a nearby primary school named Bhairab Model Govt.

[10] He held a student gathering on 19 February 1952 at Dhaka University as part of the language movement.

In 1953, he was expelled by Dhaka University for his role in the language Movement but the order was rescinded in the face of student protests.

In 1975 he was appointed to the Central Committee of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League and made its secretary.

[13] He served as the temporary President of Bangladesh Awami League during the 2006–08 Bangladeshi political crisis when President of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, was imprisoned by the military-backed caretaker government.

[21] In 2012, he asked the Organisation of Islamic Conference countries to pressure Myanmar to take back the Rohingya refugees.

[22] He called for expanding trade and diplomatic ties with Cuba after the Cuban ambassador to Bangladesh presented his credentials on 10 February 2012.

[25] Among the people for whom Zillur Rahman exercised his clemency power is A H M Biplob who was convicted in the case of murdering a lawyer.

The Sessions Court awarded Biplob, son of Awami League leader and Mayor of Laxmipur municipality Abu Taher,[26] the death penalty for the murder in absentia.

[14] Papon is the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, managing director of Beximco Pharma and an MP.

It followed his admission to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at Dhaka cantonment the previous day, which was his 84th birthday.

In his absence, Parliamentary Speaker Abdul Hamid was appointed as acting president on 14 March.

[1] In reaction to his death, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's immediate response was to express profound shock and that the death was "an irreparable loss to the country and its people," according to her Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad.