Halal Dhaka

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.

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.

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.

Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink tourist SIMs at Hazrat Shahjalal arrivals (passport and biometric registration required)

Plug: Type C / D / G (UK-style sockets are common) · 220V / 50Hz

General: 999 (national emergency)

Fire: 999

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque: 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): A historic mosque famous for its star-patterned mosaic decoration, in the old city.

Mosques 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.