Zahir started his career as a performer; then as a set designer, light designer and finally he appeared as a director in 1991. His notable works in Aranyak are Iblish (as an actor in 1981), Guinea Pig (as an actor and assistant designer in 1984), Nankar Pala (as an actor, set and costume designer in 1986), Joyjayanti (as an actor and set designer in 1995), Lebedev (as an actor and designer in 1995), a puppet theatre production (as a director and designer in 1998), Mayur Shinghashan (as a set designer in 1999), Shongkranti (set designer in 2000).

Apart from his own theatre group, he also works as a freelancer. His remarkable freelance works are Teerthankar (for Shubachan Theatre Group) as a director and designer in 2001, A Doll's House (production for Department of Drama and Music, University of Dhaka) as a set and light designer in 1998, Copeniker Captain (for Nagorik Nattya Shamproday) as set designer in 2004.

Zahir went into direction in 1991 with Manush produced by Bangla Theatre- a reparatory company in 1991.As a director he lays emphasis on physical acting. He says, 'We should focus on physical acting in order to make theatre modern.'

He has participated in professional training, diploma course, workshop and conference in Bangladesh as well as in Germany, Italy, France, India, USA, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea. One of his major works was conducting a workshop in Chuncheon theatre festival, South Korea about 'Learning various ways of expression, using puppets and masks' organized by the AITA/IATA national centre in 2002.He recently participated in a conference of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology in 2004.

Since 1981 Zahir has worked as an organiser, animator and facilitator in Mukto Natak Dal--an indigenous theatre organisation with a vision and mission to develop theatrical activism at the grassroots and rural level, particularly in Sylhet, Sirajganj, Kishoreganj, Tangail and Manikganj.

Besides theatre, Zahir has also worked as a director and designer in the audio-visual media. He has directed several single episode dramas, drama serials, documentaries which were telecast from Bangladesh television, Ekushey TV and NTV. Recently NTV telecast Obosheshey Propat, directed by Zahir.

At present Zahir is directing Chandra Grahan for Shubachan theatre group. He is also the set designer of this play. Besides this, he is the assistant director as well as the set designer of Rarang, a production of Aranyak, which is expected to be staged this August.

Zahir's hopes to establish a theatre design institute, where theatre activists from all over the country will learn various aspects of theatre. Come September, he also hopes to stage a puppet show.