The left-arm seamer bagged a career-best 7-87 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 312 in their second innings in the opening over after lunch on the penultimate day, leaving the visitors needing two runs to wrap up the series.
The hosts had conceded a 311-run lead after India scored 544-8 declared in their first innings in reply to their opponents' 233.
India, who won the opening Test by 113 runs in Chittagong last week, completed the formality when Bangladesh conceded two byes in the opening over bowled by left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan.
Zaheer finished the match with 10-149 to become only the fourth Indian paceman to take 10 or more wickets in an away Test. He was named both Man of the Match and Man of the Series.
"Zaheer's spell was remarkable as I felt it was a fantastic wicket to bat on," said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
"It was a difficult task to get 10 wickets in the second innings as there was nothing in the pitch to help either fast bowlers or spinners."
Bangladesh were well placed at 290/3 before losing seven wickets in the space of 22 runs in a dramatic collapse, with Zaheer taking four, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha two and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh one.
Zaheer struck in the morning session's penultimate over, dismissing Raqibul Hasan (five), Mohammad Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam to complete his ninth haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings.
Raqibul was bowled shouldering arms, Mahmudullah was brilliantly caught by Murali Vijay in the slips and Shafiul was bowled by a delivery that cut in sharply.
Zaheer ended the innings when he bowled last-man Rubel Hossain for no score with his third delivery after the lunch interval.
"This particular spell is a confidence-booster for me," said Zaheer.
"It was tough for the bowlers as the pitch kept getting slow and low, but once it started to reverse-swing there was something in it for the bowlers."
There was no hint of collapse in the opening hour as Shahadat Hossain (40) and former captain Mohammad Ashraful (25) took their team's overnight total of 228/3 to 290 with their defiant knocks.
Harbhajan broke the 68-run partnership when he had nightwatchman Shahadat caught by substitute Amit Mishra at long-on. The Bangladeshi batsman hit one six and four boundaries in his 74-ball knock.
"We didn't bat well for two hours in the match that's why we lost, first hour in the first innings on the opening day and an hour before lunch today," said Shakib.
"Every time someone is getting runs, but we need two or three guys to score in each innings and that's something that we need to improve."
Ojha put pressure on the hosts when he had Ashraful caught behind and then had skipper Shakib Al Hasan (seven) caught by Gautam Gambhir at square-leg in successive overs.
India, the top-ranked Test side in the International Cricket Council rankings, will now clash with number two South Africa in a two-match series at home starting on February 6.
India needed this win this series desperately as southafrican series is coming next.Bowldid a fine job this time.
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