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.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Dhakai Jamdani Saree
Hand-loomed cotton or silk-blend saree with supplementary-weft geometric and floral motifs, a UNESCO-recognised heritage weave; woven mainly in Rupganj and Sonargaon near Dhaka
Price: BDT 4,000-60,000 (approx USD 33-489); fine handwoven pieces higher
Where: Aarong outlets, Mirpur Benarasi Palli, New Market, Gulshan and Dhanmondi boutiques
Nakshi Kantha
Embroidered quilt or wall hanging made by stitching layers of old cloth with detailed thread motifs of village life, flowers, and fish; a Bengali women's craft
Price: BDT 1,500-15,000 (approx USD 12-122)
Where: Aarong, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy craft fairs, Bashundhara City craft shops
Rickshaw Art
Hand-painted tin plates and posters in vivid film-poster style, the visual signature of Dhaka's cycle rickshaws; sold as wall art, coasters, and small painted panels
Price: BDT 300-3,500 (approx USD 2.4-29)
Where: Aarong, Gulshan DCC Market souvenir stalls, Dhaka Art Summit and Shilpakala fairs
Shankha (Conch Shell) Bangles
Carved conch-shell bangles and ornaments crafted by Hindu artisans in Shankhari Bazar, traditionally worn by married Bengali Hindu women; each is hand-cut and polished
Price: BDT 300-5,000 (approx USD 2.4-41)
Where: Shankhari Bazar, Old Dhaka
Terracotta and Pottery
Clay pots, oil lamps, and decorative figures shaped by potters in Old Dhaka (Kumartuli area) and the outskirts; lightweight small pieces travel best
Price: BDT 100-2,500 (approx USD 0.8-20)
Where: Tati Bazar and Shankhari Bazar area, Aarong, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy fairs
Jute Bags and Home Goods
Natural-fibre jute bags, rugs, wall hangings, and baskets; Bangladesh is a leading jute exporter and modern designs are widely available
Price: BDT 250-3,000 (approx USD 2-24)
Where: Aarong, Bashundhara City, Jamuna Future Park, Gulshan boutiques
Bangladeshi Tea (Sylhet and Sreemangal)
Loose-leaf black and green tea from the tea gardens of Sreemangal and Sylhet, sold packed in tins and boxes as gifts
Price: BDT 300-1,500 per 250g (approx USD 2.4-12)
Where: Aarong, supermarkets such as Shwapno and Agora, Gulshan and Dhanmondi speciality shops
Mishti (Bengali Sweets)
Milk-based sweets such as roshgolla, sandesh, and Old Dhaka's dry sweets; sold in boxed sets from established sweet shops
Price: BDT 300-1,000 per box (approx USD 2.4-8)
Where: Old Dhaka and Dhanmondi sweet shops, New Market, larger supermarkets
Tailored Shalwar Kameez and Panjabi
Made-to-measure clothing in cotton, khadi, or silk, tailored within one to three days in most markets; a practical, modest travel purchase
Price: BDT 1,500-8,000 tailored (approx USD 12-65)
Where: New Market, Gulshan and Dhanmondi tailors, Aarong and Ecstasy/Kay Kraft boutiques
Brass and Bell-Metal Items
Traditional brass and bell-metal utensils, bowls, and decor made by metalworking families in Old Dhaka
Price: BDT 400-6,000 (approx USD 3-49)
Where: Old Dhaka lanes near Tati Bazar and Shankhari Bazar, Aarong
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Bashundhara City Shopping Complex
One of South Asia's largest shopping malls with more than 2,000 shops across multiple floors, plus a food court, cinema, and amusement area; fixed prices in brand stores and negotiation in the small stalls.
Where: Panthapath, Tejgaon, Dhaka
Hours: Daily 10AM-9PM (some outlets close earlier on Fridays; confirm ahead)
Jamuna Future Park
Large modern mall near the Kuril flyover with international and local brands, a food court, an indoor amusement park, and cinema; popular with families at weekends.
Where: Kuril, Progati Sarani, Dhaka
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
New Market
Dhaka's oldest planned shopping centre, a labyrinth of cloth, tailoring, shoe, cosmetics, and jewellery stalls beside Dhaka College; bargaining is expected and quality varies.
Where: Azimpur Road, near Dhaka College, Dhaka
Hours: Daily 10AM-8PM (usually closed on one weekday; confirm locally)
Aarong (Bangladesh's Fair-Trade Craft Chain)
A well-known retail chain run by BRAC selling handcrafted textiles, jamdani sarees, jewellery, pottery, jute goods, and home decor at fixed prices; the easiest one-stop place for authentic souvenirs.
Where: Outlets in Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Banani, Uttara, Mirpur, Dhaka
Hours: Daily 10AM-8PM (confirm branch hours)
Gulshan DCC Market (Gulshan-1 and Gulshan-2)
Two neighbourhood markets in the diplomatic zone: Gulshan-1 for clothing, gifts, and eateries, and Gulshan-2 for groceries, flowers, and household goods; useful for last-minute gifts and expat supplies.
Where: Gulshan-1 Circle and Gulshan-2 Circle, Dhaka
Hours: Daily 10AM-9PM (Friday from afternoon)
Chawkbazar
Historic Old Dhaka market with spice, dried fruit, dry goods, copper and brass, perfume (attar), and prayer items; the Ramadan iftar street food market is one of the city's best-known.
Where: Old Dhaka, near Buriganga and Lalbagh
Hours: Daily 9AM-9PM; food stalls busiest 4PM-1AM during Ramadan
Shankhari Bazar
A narrow lane of traditional Hindu artisan shops where conch-shell bangles, ornaments, and religious items are carved by hand; a living heritage street of Old Dhaka.
Where: Shankharibazar Lane, Old Dhaka
Hours: Daily 9AM-8PM (Friday hours vary)
Tati Bazar
Old Dhaka weavers' quarter of narrow lanes and 19th-century brick houses, known for its traditional weaving heritage and metal and clay crafts; best visited on foot with a guide who knows the lanes.
Where: Tanti Bazar (Tati Bazar), Old Dhaka
Hours: Daily 9AM-8PM; brick-and-brass workshops open by day
Rifles Square Shopping Mall
Mid-sized shopping mall in Dhanmondi with clothing brands, a food court, and household shops, near Dhanmondi Lake and Satmasjid Road; a comfortable air-conditioned stop.
Where: Dhanmondi, Mirpur Road, Dhaka
Hours: Daily 10AM-9PM
Mirpur Benarasi Palli
Dhaka's saree district with hundreds of shops selling Benarasi silk, jamdani, katan, and cotton sarees; wedding shoppers come here, and prices are negotiable.
Where: Mirpur 10 area, Dhaka
Hours: Daily 10AM-9PM
Karwan Bazar
The city's biggest wholesale market for vegetables, fruit, and fish, near Bashundhara City; a lively market for photographers and early risers rather than a place for souvenirs.
Where: Tejgaon, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka
Hours: Daily around 5AM-9PM; wholesale peaks before dawn