Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, a megacity of roughly 10 million people in the city and more than 20 million in the metro area on the Buriganga River. It combines Mughal and colonial monuments, the crowded lanes of Old Dhaka, Louis Kahn's parliament building and some of South Asia's best biryani and street food.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Dhaka is a Muslim-majority city (about 90 percent of Bangladeshis follow Islam); the call to prayer (azan) sounds five times a day, and Friday midday prayers fill mosque forecourts and adjoining streets
Greet with 'As-salamu alaykum' (reply 'Wa alaykum as-salam'); Hindu Bengalis greet with 'Nomoshkar'. A hand on the chest with a slight nod is a safe greeting between men and women
Dress modestly: for both sexes, cover shoulders and knees; women usually wear a shalwar kameez or long tunic with loose trousers and carry a light scarf (orna) for mosques
Use the right hand to eat, pass money, and give or receive items; the left hand is considered unclean
Remove shoes before entering mosques, temples, and most private homes, and expect to leave them at the door of many small shops and offices
Bengalis are hospitable and curious; strangers will often ask where you are from, whether you are married, and what you do. These questions are friendly, not intrusive
Traffic and crowds define city life; plan generously (a 10 km trip can take over an hour at peak times) and treat delays as normal
During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking, or smoking openly in the daytime near mosques and in Old Dhaka; many small restaurants close until iftar (sunset), and the city is at its liveliest after dark
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Carry a small scarf or shawl to cover the head at mosques such as Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and Star Mosque
- Accept tea (cha) when offered; declining more than once can seem curt, so a small sip is polite
- Ask before photographing people, especially women and worshippers; photograph street scenes in Old Dhaka with a smile and a nod
- Try Old Dhaka food such as bakarkhani, kacchi biryani, and morog polao, eaten by hand where locals do
- Agree a fare before boarding a rickshaw or CNG auto-rickshaw, or use a ride-hailing app such as Pathao or Uber
- Keep small notes (BDT 10, 20, 50, 100) for rickshaws, tips, and street stalls, since change is often unavailable
- Plan around Friday and Saturday, the weekend, when many offices and some shops are closed or open late
- Use women-only seats and coaches on buses and the Metro Rail where provided, and respect queues at mosques and ticket counters
Don't
- Don't display affection publicly; kissing and close contact between couples are frowned upon
- Don't point the soles of your feet at people, prayer mats, or religious objects, and don't walk in front of someone praying
- Don't drink alcohol in public or bring it into mosques or residential neighbourhoods; alcohol is legally restricted and served only in licensed hotel bars and certain clubs
- Don't offer alcohol or pork products as a gift to Muslim hosts
- Don't photograph military installations, bridges, airports, or government buildings; police may stop you
- Don't enter mosques as a sightseer during prayer times, or in shorts, sleeveless tops, or with uncovered legs
- Don't join political rallies, hartals (strikes), or protests; check your embassy advisories and avoid the areas around Shahbag, Motijheel, and Dhaka University when demonstrations are announced
- Don't give money to children begging in traffic; small donations to established charities are more useful
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- Muslims greet with 'As-salamu alaykum'; Hindus with 'Nomoshkar'. Men typically shake hands with men; many conservative women do not shake hands with men, so wait for a woman to offer her hand or place your hand on your chest and nod. Elders are addressed with respect (Bhai for older brother, Apa for older sister, Chacha/Chachi for uncle/aunt)
- Dining
- Meals are commonly eaten with the right hand; wash before and after. Wait for elders to start. Rice, dal, fish, and curry are shared from communal dishes; hosts keep offering more, so leave a little food on the plate to signal you are full. Halal rules apply and pork is not served in Muslim restaurants
- Dress
- Modest clothing is expected everywhere: loose long trousers or skirts and tops covering the shoulders. Women should carry a scarf for mosques and rural areas. Men should avoid shorts outside hotel gyms and pools. Upscale Gulshan and Banani restaurants are relaxed but smart-casual
- Gifts
- Sweets (mishti) from a reputable sweet shop, fruit, or good tea make welcome gifts. Give and receive with the right hand or both hands. Avoid alcohol, pork products, and expensive gifts that may embarrass the recipient
- Business
- Meetings begin with tea and small talk; punctuality is valued but delays from traffic are expected. Business cards are exchanged with the right hand. Hierarchy matters, so address senior people first. Friday and Saturday are the weekend; Sunday to Thursday are working days
- Tipping
- Many restaurants add 5-10% service charge plus 15% VAT; if not, leave about 10%. Round up rickshaw and taxi fares by BDT 20-50 (approx USD 0.16-0.41). Hotel porters expect BDT 50-100 (approx USD 0.41-0.81) per bag
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
As-salamu alaykum
Hello (Muslim greeting)
as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAI-kum
Nomoshkar
Hello (Hindu greeting)
no-mosh-KAR
Dhonnobad
Thank you
DHON-no-baad
Doya kore / Maf korben
Please / excuse me
DOY-ya KO-re / maaf KOR-ben
Eta koto taka?
How much is this?
E-ta KO-to TA-ka
Onek beshi
Too expensive
O-nek BE-shi
Ji / Na
Yes / No
jee / na
Ami bujhte parchi na
I do not understand
A-mi BUJH-te PAR-chi na
Bathroom kothay?
Where is the toilet?
BATH-room ko-THAI
Pani
Water
PAA-ni
Ekhane thamun
Stop here (to a rickshaw driver)
E-kha-ne THAA-mun
Jhal kom
Less spicy, please
jhal kom
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Dhaka.
Main: Islam is the state religion and about 90 percent of Bangladeshis are Muslim, mostly Sunni; Hindus are roughly 8 percent, with small Buddhist and Christian communities. Dhaka, long called the city of mosques, has thousands of mosques and also historic Hindu temples in Old Dhaka
Sites: Baitul Mukarram National Mosque (Paltan), Star Mosque (Tara Masjid, Armanitola, mosaic-covered), Sat Gombuj Mosque (Mohammadpur), Dhakeshwari National Temple (Lalbagh), Ramna Kali Mandir, Bangladesh Buddhist Temple (Basabo), Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection (Armanitola), Holy Rosary Church (Tejgaon)
Holy Days: Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha (lunar dates shift about 11 days earlier each year, with multi-day closures and mass departures from Dhaka), Ramadan, Shab-e-Barat, Ashura, Durga Puja (Sep/Oct, Dhakeshwari), Janmashtami (Aug/Sep), Buddha Purnima, and Christmas (Dec 25)
Conversations: Faith is central to daily life and most people are comfortable discussing it, but avoid criticising Islam, the Prophet, the Quran, or religious minorities; blasphemy allegations can provoke serious reactions. Avoid party politics unless invited