--- title: "Business Travel in Dhaka (2026): Hotels & Etiquette" description: "Where to stay by business district, how to beat the traffic, the Sunday–Thursday week, meeting etiquette, power, Wi-Fi, money and safety: a practical guide to working trips in Dhaka." canonical: "https://luxurybangladesh.com/guides/business-travel-in-dhaka/" type: "guide" site: "Luxury Bangladesh" published: "2026-10-22" updated: "2026-10-22" llms_txt: "https://luxurybangladesh.com/llms.txt" --- # Business Travel in Dhaka: Hotels, Transfers and Meeting Etiquette (2026) > Canonical page: https://luxurybangladesh.com/guides/business-travel-in-dhaka/ (cite this URL) · Site guide: https://luxurybangladesh.com/llms.txt Where to stay by business district, how to beat the traffic, the Sunday–Thursday week, meeting etiquette, power, Wi-Fi, money and safety: a practical guide to working trips in Dhaka. The short version: stay as close as you can to where your meetings are, use a hotel car or a hired driver for every journey that matters, and plan your diary around a Sunday-to-Thursday working week. For corporate offices and embassies, base yourself in **Gulshan or Banani**. For the banks of Motijheel and the government offices, stay at the **InterContinental or Pan Pacific Sonargaon**, which have metro stations on the doorstep. For conventions at ICCB, the stock exchange and garment-sector visits, the **Airport Road hotels** in Nikunja save hours. *Facts checked October 2026. Visa rules, transport and security advice change, so confirm with the official sources linked below before you travel.* ## Before you fly: visas, letters and the calendar ### Visas and invitation letters - **Get a visa in advance if you can.** The US government's Country Commercial Guide for Bangladesh (March 2026) strongly recommends it, noting that visa on arrival can be suspended. - **Visa on arrival is possible for business.** Eligible nationals can apply at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. As of October 2026 the official Special Branch portal lists a fee of USD 50 (excluding processing fees), paid in cash only at the Sonali Bank counter, for a stay of up to 30 days. Issue is at the immigration officer's discretion. - **Bring the right letters.** Business applicants need a letter of introduction from their employer and an invitation letter from the Bangladeshi company, and the Bangladesh High Commission in London says the inviting organisation must notify immigration in advance of your arrival. You can pre-register your application online on the [Special Branch VOA portal](https://voa.specialbranch.gov.bd/). - **Working, not visiting?** The UK Foreign Office notes that working in Bangladesh requires a work permit. Our [Bangladesh visa guide](/guides/bangladesh-visa-guide/) covers every option in detail. ### The working week and office hours - **The week runs Sunday to Thursday.** Government offices and most businesses take Friday and Saturday off. - **Banks** generally open from 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday to Thursday, and ATMs run around the clock. - **Religious holidays move.** Eid and other Muslim holidays follow the lunar calendar. Check the public holiday list before you fix dates, especially around the two Eids, when offices close and many people travel home. - **Ramadan changes the rhythm.** The Foreign Office advises checking shop and restaurant hours, following dress codes more strictly and expecting some fasting-related tiredness. Book important meetings for the morning. In 2027, Ramadan is expected to begin in early February, subject to the sighting of the moon. - **Politics.** Rallies and strikes (hartals) can turn violent quickly, according to the Foreign Office. Watch local news in the run-up to your trip and keep your diary flexible. ## Where to stay: hotels by business district | Business district | What is there | Hotels to consider | Getting there | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Gulshan 1 and 2 | Local headquarters of multinationals, corporate offices, most embassies | Westin , Renaissance , Crowne Plaza , Amari , Four Points | On the doorstep | | Banani | Corporate and media offices, restaurants | Sheraton Dhaka , Hotel Sarina | Expressway exit on Kemal Ataturk Avenue | | Baridhara | US Embassy, British High Commission and other missions | Gulshan 2 hotels; serviced apartments for long stays | Minutes from Gulshan 2 | | Motijheel and Paltan | Bangladesh Bank, head offices of major banks, the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce | InterContinental , Pan Pacific Sonargaon | Metro: three stops from Shahbag, four from Karwan Bazar | | Karwan Bazar | National newspapers, TV channels, Export Promotion Bureau | Pan Pacific Sonargaon | Karwan Bazar metro station | | Tejgaon Industrial Area | Industry and offices, immediately south of Gulshan | Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre , Gulshan hotels | Short drive from Gulshan | | Agargaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar | Election Commission, Department of Immigration and Passports, BIDA, World Bank and ADB offices | Pan Pacific Sonargaon, InterContinental | Agargaon metro station | | Bashundhara and ICCB | Grameenphone and Bashundhara Group headquarters, ICCB conventions | Le Méridien , Dhaka Regency | Short drive from Airport Road | | Nikunja (Airport Road) | Dhaka Stock Exchange | Le Méridien (next door), Dhaka Regency, Radisson Blu | 2–5 km from the airport | | Uttara | BGMEA Complex (garment manufacturers and exporters) | Airport Road hotels | Uttara metro stations or Airport Road | | Dhaka EPZ, Savar | Export factories in a BEPZA zone | Airport Road or Gulshan hotels, with an early start | Roughly 35 km from the city centre | | Adamjee EPZ, Narayanganj | Export factories beside the Shitalakhya river | InterContinental or Pan Pacific, with a car and driver | About 15 km from Dhaka | ### Gulshan and Banani: the corporate default Gulshan hosts the majority of foreign embassies and high commissions in Bangladesh, along with corporate offices and the local headquarters of multinational companies. Banani, next door, is a major commercial hub in its own right. Between them they hold most of the city's international hotels, which makes them the natural base for a first business trip. Browse [hotels in Gulshan](/hotels/dhaka/gulshan/) and [hotels in Banani](/hotels/dhaka/banani/). A few hotel details are worth knowing. [Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan](/hotel/crowne-plaza-dhaka-gulshan/) has a ballroom and meeting rooms for 150 to 200 guests, according to IHG. [Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel](/hotel/renaissance-dhaka-gulshan-hotel/) runs a paid airport shuttle that must be reserved ahead. [Sheraton Dhaka](/hotel/sheraton-dhaka/) on Kemal Ataturk Avenue sits by the expressway's Banani exit, and Marriott says the airport can be as little as seven minutes away when the road is clear. ### Motijheel, Karwan Bazar and Agargaon: banks, media and government Motijheel is the country's largest commercial and financial hub, home to Bangladesh Bank and the head offices of state-owned banks such as Sonali, Janata, Agrani and Rupali. Karwan Bazar is the media district, with Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and several television channels. Agargaon holds a cluster of public bodies, including the Election Commission, the Department of Immigration and Passports, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the offices of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Our research found no international luxury hotel in Motijheel or Agargaon themselves, so stay at the [InterContinental](/hotel/intercontinental-dhaka/) beside Shahbag station or at [Pan Pacific Sonargaon](/hotel/pan-pacific-sonargaon-dhaka/) in Karwan Bazar, and use the metro for the rest. Booking listings mention a 24-hour business centre at the InterContinental and multiple meeting rooms with a business centre at Pan Pacific Sonargaon. ### Bashundhara, Nikunja and Uttara: conventions, the stock exchange and garments International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), on Kuril Bishwa Road beside the Purbachal Expressway, is the city's main venue for trade fairs and conferences. The Dhaka Stock Exchange stands next to [Le Méridien Dhaka](/hotel/le-meridien-dhaka/) in Nikunja 2, and the BGMEA Complex, home of the garment manufacturers' and exporters' association, is in Uttara's Sector 17. All three are a short drive from the hotels on our [Dhaka airport hotels page](/hotels/dhaka/airport/). > **Insider tip:** If your trip includes a factory visit to Dhaka EPZ at Savar, leave early and agree a return time with your driver that gets you back before dark. The zone is roughly 25 km from the airport and 35 km from the city centre, and the UK Foreign Office warns that driving at night is especially dangerous. For a deeper look at each neighbourhood, read our guide to [where to stay in Dhaka](/guides/where-to-stay-in-dhaka/), or compare every [5-star hotel in Dhaka](/hotels/dhaka/5-star/). ## Getting around: transfers, drivers and traffic ### From the airport - **Pre-book your transfer.** The Foreign Office warns of theft (including passport theft), harassment and taxi overcharging at Dhaka airport, and advises avoiding touts who offer to carry bags. A hotel car or a driver sent by your host solves all of this. - **Terminal 3 is not open yet.** As of October 2026, a partial opening with about 20 flights is targeted for 16 December 2026, with full operation expected by March or April 2027, according to the civil aviation minister. If you travel after mid-December, check which terminal your airline uses. - **Use the Elevated Expressway.** The airport-to-Farmgate section has been open since September 2023, with exits that include Banani, Mohakhali, Farmgate and Karwan Bazar. Tolls apply, and the southern extension towards Kutubkhali is still being built. Our [Dhaka airport guide](/guides/dhaka-airport-guide/) walks through arrival step by step. ### Cars, drivers and ride-hailing - **Hire a car with an experienced local driver** for meeting days. That is the US Commercial Service's recommendation, and US government personnel are barred from using buses, trains, motorcycles and CNG auto-rickshaws. - **Ride-hailing works, mostly for cash.** Uber operates in Dhaka, but fares are usually paid in taka rather than through the app. The Foreign Office suggests checking the car and driver and sharing your journey details. - **Avoid cycle-rickshaws on main roads,** which the Foreign Office considers unsafe, and avoid intercity road travel after dark. - **If there is an accident,** the US Commercial Service notes that crowds can become hostile after serious collisions and advises going to the nearest police station rather than staying at the scene. ### The metro MRT Line 6 runs from Uttara North to Motijheel through 16 stations. For business travellers the useful stops are Agargaon, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbag, Bangladesh Secretariat and Motijheel. Since 7 June 2026 the last trains leave Uttara North at 21:50 and Motijheel at 22:30. Each train has a women-only carriage, and you can pay with single-journey tickets or a Rapid Pass or MRT Pass card. The extension to Kamalapur railway station is expected to open in July 2027. The line does not serve Gulshan, Banani or Baridhara. ### Planning a meeting day - Group meetings by district and keep cross-city journeys to a minimum. - Leave generous buffers; the clock is set by the traffic, not the distance. - Ask each host for a map pin and the name of the building, and share both with your driver the night before. > **Insider tip:** Before you book a hotel, ask your host which metro station is nearest their office. If it is on Line 6, a central hotel plus the train can beat a car at rush hour by a wide margin. ## Meeting etiquette - **Greetings.** English is widely used in business. The customary greeting is "As-salaam-u-alaikum", answered with "Walaikum as-salaam", and an English "good morning" is entirely acceptable. - **Handshakes across genders.** Some Bangladeshis do not shake hands with people of the opposite sex. Let your counterpart take the lead; if no hand is offered, a smile and a nod are fine. - **Tone.** Start formal, with titles and surnames, and let your host set the pace. - **Punctuality.** Business meetings usually start on time, while conferences and social events often begin late. Arrive punctually yourself, but build slack into the day. - **Relationships first.** The US Commercial Service stresses that personal contact is central to doing business in Bangladesh, that executives are typically courteous hosts, and that sharing meals is a common way to move negotiations forward. If you are offered tea, accepting it is the easy, polite choice. - **Business cards.** Bring more than you think you need, and carry them to every meeting. - **Dress.** Business attire is the norm, even for evening functions. Women tend to dress conservatively but are not expected to cover their heads; the Foreign Office advises women to cover shoulders and legs in public. - **Gifts.** A modest gift from home is a kind gesture. Alcohol is prohibited for Muslims except for medical reasons, so never give it to Muslim counterparts, and avoid pork products. - **During Ramadan.** Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in front of fasting colleagues during the day. An invitation to iftar, the meal that breaks the fast at sunset, is a warm gesture worth accepting. ## Wi-Fi, mobile data and power - **Mobile data.** Networks cover nearly the whole country, and 4G is widely available in most cities. SIM cards must be registered with your biometric data, so bring your passport when you buy one. - **Plugs and voltage.** Bangladesh uses 220 V at 50 Hz, with type G as the main standard and types C, D and K also in use. Pack a universal adapter. - **Power cuts.** The grid relies heavily on natural gas, and supply has been fragile: a grid failure in October 2022 left most of the country without power, and in 2026 rising global fuel prices raised fresh energy-security concerns. The Foreign Office also reported fuel shortages in October 2026. Ask whether your hotel has full generator backup, carry a power bank and keep presentations saved offline and on a USB stick. > **Insider tip:** For an important video call, test the connection the day before at the same time of day, and keep mobile data ready as a hotspot in case the hotel Wi-Fi drops. ## Money and payments - **Currency.** The Bangladeshi taka traded at roughly 122–123 to the US dollar in October 2026. US dollars are the most widely exchanged currency; euros and pounds can be changed at banks and hotels. - **Cards.** Major credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs operate 24 hours. Carry some taka for ride-hailing, tips and small purchases. - **Mobile wallets.** bKash is everywhere in local life, with more than 84 million verified users. As a short-stay visitor, you will mostly pay by card in hotels and in cash elsewhere. - **Visa-on-arrival fee.** Bring US dollars in cash: the official portal says only cash is accepted at the airport bank counter. ## Safety and security for business travellers - **Advisory levels.** The US State Department lowered its overall advisory for Bangladesh to Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution", on 30 July 2026, but keeps the Chittagong Hill Tracts at Level 4, "Do Not Travel". The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the Hill Tracts districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban. Dhaka is not covered by those area warnings. - **Terrorism and crowds.** The Foreign Office says terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Bangladesh, including at restaurants, cafés, public transport and political rallies. Stay aware of your surroundings and keep away from large gatherings and demonstrations. - **Crime.** Violent crime has reportedly increased since the 2024 uprising, and thieves often work in pairs on motorcycles or CNG auto-rickshaws. Do not carry large sums of cash or wear expensive watches and jewellery. - **Women travellers** can face harassment; the Foreign Office advises avoiding isolated areas and taking extra care at night. - **The law.** Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Bangladesh. Drinking is permitted in government-licensed bars, and you may need a liquor permit. Never buy black-market alcohol: methanol-contaminated drinks have caused deaths. - **Health.** The Foreign Office describes medical facilities as poor overall, so take insurance that includes medical evacuation. Private hospitals used by visitors include Evercare Hospital Dhaka in Bashundhara and Square Hospital on Panthapath. Tap water is not safe to drink, dengue peaks from May to September, and air pollution is severe from November to March. - **Emergencies.** Call 999 for police, fire or ambulance; since January 2025 the service has offered an English-language option (press 2). US citizens can enrol in the State Department's STEP programme so the embassy can reach them. Our [Bangladesh safety guide](/guides/is-bangladesh-safe-for-tourists/) puts these risks in proportion. ## Your business-trip checklist - Visa arranged, or visa-on-arrival paperwork ready: employer letter, invitation letter, return ticket and US dollars in cash. - A hotel close to your main meetings. - Airport car booked, with the driver's name and plate number sent to your phone. - Universal adapter, power bank, and presentations saved offline. - Passport ready for SIM registration, plus a data plan as backup. - Some taka for small expenses and ride-hailing. - Business attire and modest dress for evenings. - Meetings grouped by district, Sunday to Thursday. - Travel insurance with medical evacuation, and registration with your embassy. - The latest UK and US travel advice read the day before you fly. ## Next steps - Compare [5-star hotels in Dhaka](/hotels/dhaka/5-star/) or browse the [Gulshan hotels page](/hotels/dhaka/gulshan/). - Read our neighbourhood guide to [where to stay in Dhaka](/guides/where-to-stay-in-dhaka/). - Prepare your arrival with the [Dhaka airport guide](/guides/dhaka-airport-guide/) and the [Bangladesh visa guide](/guides/bangladesh-visa-guide/). - Hosting a client dinner? Our [Bangladeshi food guide](/guides/bangladeshi-food-guide/) covers hotel fine dining and local specialities. - Staying over the weekend? Escape the city at one of the [luxury resorts near Dhaka](/guides/luxury-resorts-near-dhaka/). - See [how we rate hotels](/how-we-rate/) and how we check guest reviews in our [review methodology](/review-methodology/). ## FAQ **What is the working week in Bangladesh?** Sunday to Thursday. Government offices and most businesses close on Friday and Saturday, and banks typically open from 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday to Thursday. **Can I get a business visa on arrival in Dhaka?** Often, if your nationality is eligible: bring a letter of introduction from your employer, an invitation letter from your Bangladeshi host and USD 50 in cash. Issue is at the immigration officer's discretion, so the US government's commercial guide recommends getting a visa before you travel. **Which area of Dhaka is best for business travellers?** Gulshan and Banani for corporate offices and embassies; the InterContinental or Pan Pacific Sonargaon for the banks of Motijheel and government offices; and the Airport Road hotels for conventions at ICCB and the Dhaka Stock Exchange. **Is Uber available in Dhaka?** Yes, Uber operates in Dhaka, though fares are usually paid in cash. For a full day of meetings, a hotel car or a hired car with an experienced local driver is more dependable. **Do Bangladeshi business people shake hands with women?** Some Bangladeshis do not shake hands with people of the opposite sex. Let your counterpart take the lead; if no hand is offered, a smile and a nod are perfectly polite. **Are power cuts a problem for business travellers in Dhaka?** Power cuts still happen in Bangladesh, and the UK Foreign Office reported energy and fuel shortages in October 2026. Ask whether your hotel has full generator backup, carry a power bank and keep presentations available offline. 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