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Muslim business traveller's guide
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is one of the easiest cities in the world for a Muslim business traveller: the country is overwhelmingly Muslim, so food is halal by default (no pork, and alcohol is not served in ordinary restaurants), and the adhan marks the rhythm of the day. It is a fast-growing host for food and halal trade shows — the Food Bangladesh International Expo and the country's halal-industry expos run at venues such as the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) and the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. Dhaka is famously dense and traffic-heavy (and famous for its rickshaws), but the new Metro Rail (MRT Line 6) and the Uber/Pathao ride-hailing apps now make getting around far more predictable than it used to be.
Getting in
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC)
• Uber / Pathao car — 40-90 min depending on traffic (most predictable; book in-app from the terminal for a fixed fare)
• Hotel pickup car — 40-90 min (arrange in advance with your hotel — the simplest option after a long flight)
• Prepaid airport taxi — 40-90 min (use the regulated prepaid taxi counter and pay the fixed fare inside the terminal)
Getting around
Dhaka is extremely dense and traffic is the city's biggest daily challenge. The Metro Rail (MRT Line 6) runs fast and air-conditioned from Uttara North in the north to Motijheel in the central business district (about 35-40 min end to end) and is the quickest way along that corridor; for everything else, ride-hailing apps and hotel cars are easiest.
The Metro uses single-journey tickets from station machines or a rechargeable MRT Pass / Rapid Pass; for most visitors the Uber and Pathao apps are simpler door-to-door.
Skip flagging cars on the street; use a ride-hailing app for a fixed in-app fare, or arrange a car through your hotel. Green CNG auto-rickshaws are cheap for short hops — agree the fare or insist on the meter first. Cycle-rickshaws are everywhere for very short distances.
Visa & entry
Money
Bangladeshi Taka · BDT
Cards are accepted in hotels, malls and upmarket restaurants, but Dhaka is still largely a cash economy — carry taka for ride-hailing, markets, street food and smaller shops.
Tipping (locally 'bakshish') is customary — around 5-10% in restaurants and small notes for porters and drivers are appreciated.
Most halal-expo buyers and exhibitors travel from the world's main halal hubs. Here's how to connect to Dhaka from each — entry rules vary by nationality, so check the Visa & entry note above.
Riyadh
Dhaka biryani & Bangladeshi grills
citywide · $-$$
halal by default
Kacchi biryani, tehari, beef and mutton bhuna, kebabs and roast are everywhere and all halal — there is no need to check; meat in the country is halal by default.
Old Dhaka food lanes (Chawkbazar / Nazira Bazar)
Old Dhaka · $
halal by default
The historic heart of the city's food scene — legendary biryani houses, kebabs, bakarkhani and rich local sweets, especially busy in the evenings.
Hilsa (ilish) & Bengali fish dishes
citywide · $$
halal
Hilsa, the national fish, and a wide range of river-fish curries are a Dhaka speciality — try a proper Bengali restaurant at least once.
International dining & cafes
Gulshan / Banani / Dhanmondi · $$-$$$
halal by default
Upmarket cafes, global chains and fusion restaurants cluster in Gulshan, Banani and Dhanmondi — all halal, with no alcohol served in ordinary venues.
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque
Paltan (central Dhaka)
Bangladesh's national mosque and one of the largest in the country — a major Friday congregation in the heart of the city.
Star Mosque (Tara Masjid)
Old Dhaka (Armanitola)
A historic mosque famous for its star-patterned mosaic decoration, in the old city.
Mosques citywide
citywide
Mosques are everywhere in Dhaka and most malls, offices, hotels and the airport have prayer rooms (musalla); the adhan is heard across every neighbourhood.
Lalbagh Fort
Old Dhaka
An unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort complex with a mosque, tomb and gardens — one of the city's best-known historic sites.
Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace)
Old Dhaka (Buriganga riverfront)
The restored pink riverside palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka, now a museum overlooking the Buriganga River.
Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House)
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar
Bangladesh's parliament building, a world-renowned modernist landmark designed by architect Louis Kahn — striking to view from the surrounding park.
Sources: https://www.visa.gov.bd · https://www.hsia.gov.bd · https://www.999.gov.bd
Nearby and frequently-paired destinations, with the same Muslim-traveller guide.
Connectivity
Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink tourist SIMs at Hazrat Shahjalal arrivals (passport and biometric registration required)
eSIM: Airalo and similar eSIMs cover Bangladesh
Plug: Type C / D / G (UK-style sockets are common) · 220V / 50Hz
Emergency
General: 999 (national emergency)
Fire: 999
Safety
Saudi Arabia