Dhaka

Dhaka covers 360 km² (140 sq mi) in the lower reaches of the Ganges delta. It is bounded by the Rivers Buriganga, Dhaleshwari and Turag; and their numerous tributaries and river channels. The land is close to sea level. Dhaka is vulnerable to flash floods during the monsoon.

The literal meaning of the name Dhaka is "concealed". The enigmatic name might have originated from dhak trees found in the area; or from the 12th-century Hindu Dhakeshwari Temple.

The earliest settlements in the region date back 2,500 years. Dhaka was the capital of Bengal during the Mughal Empire in the 17th century. As the seat of administration and commerce in the Bengal Delta, the wealthiest and most fertile region in the Empire, it became one of the largest and most prosperous cities in Asia. Proclaimed as the provincial capital in 1608, Mughal Dhaka had a population of one-million people, with well-laid out gardens, monuments, tombs, forts, mosques, temples, and churches. The city was home to Armenian, Persian, Greek, Arab, Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English merchants. Its riverbanks were once dotted with numerous stately mansions and the city was described as the Venice of the East. The Dhaka District was famous worldwide for its fine cotton muslin fabrics. The British East India Company took control of the city in 1793.

In British Bengal, Dhaka and its sister city Calcutta played a tale of two cities in the region, greatly affecting the course of events in the British Raj. The short-lived Partition of Bengal in 1905 established Dhaka as the capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam and incubated the broader Indian independence movement. The All India Muslim Educational Conference in Dhaka in 1906 established the All India Muslim League. The University of Dacca gained a reputation as the "Oxford of the East" in its early years. Following the Partition of British India in 1947, Dhaka became the capital of East Pakistan. Increasing political and cultural friction with West Pakistan gave rise to the secular Bengali nationalist movement in the 1950s. The Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 established Bangladesh as an independent country and Dhaka its national capital.

Since Bangladesh's independence, Dhaka has greatly expanded with the inauguration of Louis Kahn's capital complex in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, the rise of posh modern neighbourhoods in North Dhaka and densely populated satellite towns. It was the birthplace of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in 1985. The growth of the Bangladeshi economy has brought greater trade and foreign investment. Dhaka continues to face many challenges. The gap between rich and poor is widening. A thirty-minute rickshaw ride can take you from the impossibly crowded shantytowns near Old Dhaka to the glitzy upper-class neighborhoods of Gulshan and Banani, where a meal costs more than what most people earn in a day.

The weather is subtropical. During the monsoon season, May–September, Dhaka is very hot, very humid, and very rainy, and daytime high temperatures average 32 °C (90 °F), although some days reach 35 °C (95 °F). Between the heat, humidity, and air pollution, the weather can be simply unbearable for some people during this time of year.

During the dry season, November–March, the weather is drier and cooler. Daytime high temperate average 29 °C (84 °F), and a few cooler nights may get down to 13 °C (55 °F). Visitors from cooler countries may want to visit during the dry season for this reason.

Dense fog is usually seen between November and January, and it may disrupt flights and ferry transport.

Air pollution, caused by traffic congestion, and water pollution, caused by industrial waste, are serious problems affecting the city.

The following is a selection of prominent works set in the city:

• Tahmima Anam's award-winning novel A Golden Age is set in Dhaka during the 1971 Liberation War, depicting the tumultuous era through the eyes of one family.
• Dilruba Ahmed's Dhaka Dust won the 2010 Bakeless Prize for Poetry. Ranging from Europe and America to the streets of the Bangladeshi capital, her sharp-edged poems mix the voices of global citizenry with Dhaka's city dwellers.
• K. Anis Ahmed's Goodnight, Mr. Kissinger traces the modern history of Dhaka from its status as a provincial capital in 1970 to today's densely populated megacity.
• Bengali author Akhtaruzzaman Elias's The Soldier in an Attic details the journey of a man during the turbulent period prior to Bangladeshi independence. The novel also contains what is arguably the most authentic description of life in Old Dhaka.
• Translated works of poet laureate Shamsur Rahman.
• Amitav Ghosh's The Shadow Lines includes a vivid description of Dhaka in the early 1960s, set against the backdrop of Hindu-Muslim riots in 1963–64.
• Shazia Omar's Like A Diamond in the Sky chronicles drug abuse among Dhaka's youth and an environment abandoned by a corrupt self-seeking government.

• 🌍 Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC  ^IATA). The primary airport serving Dhaka. It has regular international flights from Bahrain, Bangkok, Colombo, Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Jeddah, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Kuwait, Kunming London, Male, Mumbai, Muscat, New Delhi, Paro, Singapore, and Yangon. The national airline Biman Bangladesh Airlines operates flights to 21 cities in Europe and Asia. Private Bangladeshi carriers operate regional flights within South Asia and Southeast Asia. Hazrat Shahjalal is a relatively modern and efficient airport. Immigration may take notoriously long during peak hours. Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter Bangladesh, although some travellers may obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport for US$51 or €51. If you are transferring from the international terminal to the domestic terminal, beware of airport officials at the scanning station (before the domestic terminal) who will tell you that the domestic terminal is closed, make you sit down, and then try to extort bribes from you. If that happens, get up, and quickly walk out of the doors and turn right towards the domestic terminal. Once inside, he may follow you, but loudly tell him to leave you alone. He will back down and go back to his station. Domestic flights link five cities within the country. 

Dhaka is the hub of Bangladeshi Railways. Almost all major cities in Bangladesh connect with Dhaka by train, usually two or three times per day. There are daytime and overnight trains. The only international connection by train is with Kolkata, India, from where the Maitree Express departs early morning, three times per week.

Bangladeshi Railways does have an e-ticket service, but it only works with domestic credit cards and phone numbers. Best bet for a tourist is to make reservations at the station or a travel agency. Trains are popular so book in advance.

• 🌍 Kamalapur railway station (কমলাপুর রেলওয়ে স্টেশন), Outer Circular Road, Motijheel Thana (Southeastern part of Central Dhaka. MRT Line 1 and 6 are expected to serve Kamalapur by 2025. Numerous bus routes call here), ☏ +8801711691612. Kamalapur railway station is the central and largest railway complex in Bangladesh with over 50 trains arriving per day. An estimated sixty thousand people use the station every day. There are 8 platforms in the station. It is the hub for all regional and intercity trains, located just east of Old Dhaka. The station is among the most striking modernist buildings in the city. There are a lot of options to eat and drink in Kamalapur station. In particular, there is an exclusive food court in the platform 8 of the terminal. Kamalapur railway station operates a hotel in the terminal. Station code: DA. (updated Apr 2024)
• 🌍 Dhaka Cantonment railway station (ঢাকা ক্যান্টনমেন্ট রেলওয়ে স্টেশন). A smaller station in North Dhaka. While a few long-distance domestic trains as well as commuter service call here it is mainly notable for being the terminus of Maitree Express from Kolkata. (updated Apr 2024)
• 🌍 Dhaka Airport railway station (ঢাকা বিমানবন্দর রেলওয়ে স্টেশন). Major station in North Dhaka next to the international airport, most trains arriving from the north to Dhaka calls here. (updated Nov 2018)

Buses are a popular mode of cross country transport in Bangladesh. Luxury AC buses fare daily between Dhaka and other Bangladeshi cities, including Chittagong, Khulna, Bogra, Jessore, Rajshahi, Cox's Bazar and Sylhet, as well the Indian cities of Kolkata and Agartala. Tickets cost Tk 800–1200. Ticket counters are located across the city, particularly in the Panthapath and Arambagh areas. Non-AC buses travel to every major town in the country. There are several terminals located across Dhaka serving a different region of Bangladesh. Sayedabad serves buses travelling between Dhaka and the eastern divisions of Sylhet and Chittagong. Gabtali is for buses travelling between Dhaka and the western divisions of Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna. Mohakhali serves buses travelling around Dhaka Division, including the districts of Mymensingh and Tangail.

• Shohagh, 63 DIT Road Malibagh, ☏ +880 2 9344477. Daily services with Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Cox's Bazaar, Jessore and Kolkata. 
• Green Line, 9/2, Outer Circular Road, Momen Bagh, Rajarbagh, ☏ +880 2 8331302-4. Daily services with Chittagong, Kolkata, Sylhet, Cox's Bazaar, Khulna and Bogra. 
• Baghdad Express, Counters in Arambagh and Kalabagan, ☏ +880 1730046040. Daily services with Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. 
• Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), 21 Rajuk Avenue, ☏ +880-2-8357757. BRTC operates the International Bus Service twice daily with Kolkata and scheduled services with Agartala. 

Dhaka is the focal point of the national highway system in Bangladesh. The nearest international borders to the city are the Akhaura/Agartala Border Crossing with Northeast India and Haridaspur/Benapole with the Indian state of West Bengal. Cars can be used to travel from the Indian border; but the border with Myanmar remains closed.

Most ferries arrive and leave from the port of 🌍 Sadarghat. This area and its surrounding streets are unbelievably crowded, so allow plenty of time and keep an eye on your valuables. If arriving at the port, fight your way to the left on the frontage road and then make your first right; this turns into Nawabpur Road and leads north to the hotels. Even if you aren't staying in this area, it's easier to walk several hundred metres north to catch an onward rickshaw or taxi; the ones near the port are at a constant standstill.

Modern river transport to various large river ports in Bangladesh such as Chandpur, Barisal, and Khulna leave several times a day from Dhaka's Sadarghat river terminal. Modern fast catamaran transport is available to these destinations which may demand premium fares. These fast catamarans reach Barisal within 6 hours from Dhaka Sadarghat terminal (morning departures are usually at 08:00). Normal fare is Tk 700 and Business Class fare is Tk 1000 as of mid-2018. One can purchase tickets online, most hotel concierges can help with tickets. The Green Line bus operator folks also have the fast Catamaran service - please see their contact information above in the bus section.

A few colonial-era rocket steamers depart from Dhaka to Barisal, Hularhat, Morrelganj and Khulna several times per week, leaving Sadarghat at 18:00. As of December 2018, there is only one steamer per week going the whole way to Khulna (takes 26–30 hours), but most of the other days you can get at least to Hularhat, and then use a local transport to Khulna (2 hours). Tickets should be booked with the BIWTA office. The old BIWTA office in Motijheel is believed closed (May 2019) - the new office is located near Ramna Park at 21 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue (recorded in maps.me as 'new BIWTA/BIWTC office'). If a rocket steamer does not depart on your chosen day, the staff will offer another BIWTC boat, including the MV Bangali which offers a similar level of comfort including food and water available on board and fans in the rooms for a similar price. The MV Bangali departs from Lalkuthi Ghat (not Badamtoli Ghat as some will tell you).

If you are planning to cross rivers while heading to southern Bangladesh by car from Dhaka, head to the ferry ports in Mawa and Aricha on the Padma River.

Ganga Vilas, the international luxurious river cruise from India, has a stop at Dhaka.

Due to poor infrastructure and nasty traffic conditions, one of the quickest ways to get around the city is by rickshaw. This isn't to say that it's easy to hail a rickshaw and you should rely entirely on rickshaws during your time in the city; negotiating a fare is essential, and rickshaws are, to a significant extent, responsible for the city's horrendous traffic. Still though, getting around by rickshaw is a much better alternative than getting around by car.

Rickshaws in wealthy areas such as Banani and Gulshan often must pay local mafia men for the privilege of servicing the high-price areas. This can sometimes mean drivers are apprehensive to take passengers to these areas. Additionally, foreigners should also be warned that rickshaws will sometimes begin the ride with a pitch to sell drugs or prostitutes. This is very rare. One or two simple, but firm, declines will generally solve the situation. If you're a woman, it's particularly inadvisable to ride around alone in rickshaws after dark; you're a slow-moving target asking for trouble from thugs and muggers. Take a yellow taxi instead.

The planned 6-line is under construction. The first phase of 🌍 MRT Line 6 was inaugurated in Dec 2022, and the other lines by 2030. One can travel now from Agargaon to Uttara.

It is not recommended for tourists or foreigners to drive in Dhaka. The road network in Dhaka as a whole is severely disorganised.

The city has a high volume of traffic, and the roads can be chaotic and poorly maintained, making driving a challenging experience. Additionally, the driving culture in Dhaka can be aggressive and unpredictable, with drivers often disregarding traffic rules and signals. Traffic police monitor most intersections to keep traffic moving, although the implementation of traffic signals at various intersections is often disregarded by both drivers and traffic police, who choose to direct cars as they see fit.

There are some options for car rental, with Europcar being the notable Western brand name. The government's Virtual Bangladesh website has more options. Many companies may also offer the option to rent-a-driver for a number of days; it is common for most middle to upper-class locals to have their own drivers.

Auto-rickshaws, locally known as 'CNGs' (named after compressed natural gas, their fuel source) are also abundant and have meters, which drivers can sometimes be persuaded to use. They're the cheapest way to cover longer distances; an 8 km ride from Old Dhaka to Gulshan should cost Tk 150–200. The meters start at Tk 13.50, but you'll likely have to negotiate a fare instead. The city does become very congested at times, so allow plenty of time for getting around.

Taxis ply the roads, some yellow and some black, all with meters. Black taxis start the meter at Tk 15 while yellow taxis have slightly higher standards in terms of comfort, and start at Tk 20. Black taxis are typically in notoriously poor condition and lack air conditioning. Yellow taxis are required to have air conditioning; the fleet consists mostly of Toyota Corollas, with some Mitsubishis and Hondas. The yellow taxis are also considered far safer, in comparison to black taxis and auto-rickshaws. But as of March 2021, taxis are becoming rare and are hardly seen on the roads.

Buses run routes on the main roads, but are horribly crowded and noisy, signed only in Bengali and aren't likely to be of much use to travellers. The buses are also frequently involved in collisions. Save yourself a headache and take a rickshaw, or for long distances, a comfortable, air-conditioned bus or train.

Many locals of lower-classes often use bicycles as a primary form of transport. They can be useful in their ability to squeeze through tight situations, where traffic may prevent a large vehicle from moving. Some newer roads in the capital have dual bike/rickshaw lanes. Although, there is little opportunity to buy or rent a bike, plus the roads and traffic are in such bad condition that the chance of an accident is high.

Sometimes, walking may actually be the fastest way to get from point A to B. Always ensure you walk on the footpath, or if one isn't available, as far to the side of the road as possible. The road is a dangerous place in Dhaka, and many pedestrians are often injured by passive drivers. Those who are squeamish to pollution or have asthma may need to wear a mask; the air pollution from passing trucks and buses, combined with the searing heat and humidity can be overwhelming at times.

There are a number of amusement parks in and around Dhaka City.

• 🌍 Fantasy Kingdom (Fantasy Kingdom), ঢাকা - আশুলিয়া মহাসড়ক, Ashulia, Jamgora 1349, info@fantasykingdom.net. 11am - 7pm. Fantasy Kingdom - Best theme park in Bangladesh, Water Kingdom - Best water park in Bangladesh, Xtreme Racing - The First Go Kart in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Heritage Park - The best park in Dhaka, Resort Atlantis - The Best resort in Dhaka 500. (updated Aug 2023)
• 🌍 Nandan Park. 

Traditional Dhakaiya spicy dish available in every corner of old Dhaka.

Bakorkhani or Bakharkhani is a traditional bakery item available in every corner of old town.

• Radio Foorti - 88.0 MHz
• Radio Amar - 88.4 MHz
• ABC Radio (Dhaka) - 89.2 MHz
• Radio Today - 89.6 MHz
• Bangladesh Betar (relays BBC World Service) - 100.0 MHz

There are five local newspapers in English:

• The Daily Star
• Dhaka Tribune
• New Age
• The Independent
• The Financial Express

• 🌍 Australia, 184 Gulshan Ave, Gulshan-2, ☏ +880 2 881 3105, fax: +880 2 881 1125, ahc.dhaka@dfat.gov.au. Su-Th 08:00-16:00 (lunch break 12:30-13:00). 
• Brazil, Road 142, Symphony Tower, Gulshan 1, ☏ +880 2 883 2266, fax: +880 2 881 3000. 
• Canada, House # 16A, Road # 48 Gulshan-2, ☏ +880 2 988 7091. 
• China, Plot 2 $ 4, Rd 3, Block-1, Baridara, ☏ +880 2 882 48 62, fax: +880 2 8823004, chinaemb@bdmail.net. 
• Denmark, Road 51, House 1, Gulshan 2, ☏ +880 2 882 2499, +880 2 882 1799, fax: +880 2 882 3638, dacamb@um.dk. 
• France, ☏ +880 2 881 38 11, fax: +880 2 882 33 20. 
• Germany, ☏ +880 2 885 35 21-24. 
• Greece, Reliance Insurance Ltd, 11th Floor, 8 Rajuk Avenue, ☏ +880 2 955 7220, fax: +880 2 956 3297. 
• India (High Commission of India), Plot No. 1-3, Park Road, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212, ☏ +880 2 988 93 39, +880 2 9888789-91 (Dhaka), visahelp@hcidhaka.gov.in. 09:00-17:00. 
• Italy, ☏ +880 2 882 2781. 
• Japan, ☏ +880 2 881 00 87. 
• Republic of Korea, ☏ +880 2 881 20 88-90. 
• Malaysia, ☏ +880 2 8827759. 
• The Netherlands, ☏ +880 2 8822715-18, fax: +880 2 8823326. 
• Romania, Cosmos Centre, 69/1, New Circular Road, Malibagh, ☏ +880 2 8312024, +880 2 9356522, +880 2 9351137, fax: +880 2 8314602, cosmos@citechco.net, ekhan@citechco.net, ekhan@singnet.com.sgMULTIPLE-EMAIL. Honorary Consulate (Does not provide consular services. Instead, Romanian citizens in need of assistance should contact the embassy in New Delhi, India or the embassy of another European Union member state.) 
• Russia, ☏ +880 2 882 81 42. 
• Saudi Arabia, ☏ +880 2 882 91 24-33. 
• Sweden, Bay’s Edgewater, 6th Floor, Plot No. 12, North Avenue, Gulshan 2, Dhaka-1212, ☏ +880 2 55 66 8500, fax: +880 2 9852032, ambassaden.dhaka@gov.se. 
• Turkey, House No: 7 Road No:2 Baridhara - Dhaka-1212, ☏ +880 2 984 21 98, +880 2 984 35 36, fax: +880 2 984 38 73, embassy.dhaka@mfa.gov.tr. Su-Th 09:00 -13:00, 14:00-18:00. (updated Sep 2017)
• United Kingdom, United Nations Rd, Baridhara, ☏ +880 2 882 2705, fax: +880 2 882 3437. 
• United States, Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Ave, Baridhara, ☏ +880 2 885-5500, fax: +880 2 882-3744.