The title compound, [Zn-2(C9H4O6)(2)(C6H6N4)(2)], consists of two Zn-II ions, two 5-carboxybenzene-1,3-dicarboxylate (Hbtc(2-)) dianions and two 2,2'-bi-1H-imidazole (bimz) molecules. The Zn-II centre is coordinated by two carboxylate O atoms from two Hbtc(2-) ligands and by two imidazole N atoms of a bimz ligand, in a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. Two neighbouring Zn-II ions are bridged by a pair of Hbtc(2-) ligands, forming a discrete binuclear [Zn-2(Hbtc)(2)(bimz)(2)] structure lying across an inversion centre. Hydrogen bonds between carboxyl H atoms and carboxylate O atoms and between imidazole H atoms and carboxylate O atoms link the binuclear units. These binuclear units are further extended into a three-dimensional supramolecular structure through extensive O-H center dot center dot center dot O and N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds. Moreover, the three-dimensional nature of the crystal packing is reinforced by the pi-pi stacking. The title compound exhibits photoluminescence in the solid state, with an emission maximum at 415 nm.