Dhaka Shopping Guide: Best Markets, Malls and What to Buy

The Main Shopping Areas

• New Market and around (Gausia, Chandni Chowk) — crowded, busy, and full of fabric, sarees, three-pieces, tailoring materials and household goods. Good prices if you bargain.
• Mirpur Benarasi Palli — rows of shops selling Benarasi, Katan and other silk sarees. The place for wedding and festival sarees.
• Aarong outlets (several across Dhaka) — fixed prices, good quality handloom, clothing, nakshi kantha, jewellery and home decor. Easy for first-time visitors. See buying Aarong from abroad.
• Jamuna Future Park and Bashundhara City — large modern malls with Bangladeshi and international brands, food courts and air-conditioning.
• Shankhari Bazar (Old Dhaka) — a historic street of conch-shell craftsmen, known for shakha bangles and puja items.
• Nilkhet — a huge book market with new and second-hand Bangla and English books. See buying Bangla books.
• Elephant Road — shoes and leather goods. See my leather goods guide.
• Jamdani weaving villages (Rupganj, Narayanganj) — buy direct from weavers; a half-day trip from Dhaka. See buying Jamdani.

What to Buy in Dhaka

The best-value and most "Bangladeshi" buys are: Jamdani and Tangail sarees, panjabis, nakshi kantha, leather goods, jute products, rickshaw art, shital pati, brass and kansa, and tea and spices. My full list is in what to buy from Bangladesh.

Bargaining and Payment Tips

• Bargain in markets, politely. Start lower and settle somewhere in the middle. Malls and Aarong have fixed prices.
• Carry cash in taka. Many market shops don't take foreign cards. Malls and Aarong usually accept cards.
• Go in the morning on weekdays. Markets get very crowded in the evening and before Eid.
• Check the weekly closing day of each market before you go — many close one day a week.
• Watch your bag and phone in crowded places.

Too Much to Carry? Ship It Home

Many visitors buy more than their luggage allows. I can collect your shopping, pack it properly and ship it to your home with tracking by DHL, FedEx or EMS — see best courier from Bangladesh and customs duty on parcels. And after you go home, if you want more of something, I can buy it again and send it to you.

How I Can Help

I'm a Dhaka-based personal shopper and local helper. Through my travel concierge service I can arrange airport pickup, help with hotels and transport, find a guide, and shop with you or for you. If you can't come at all, I can buy things in Bangladesh and ship them to you. Message me before your trip with your dates and what you need.

More Bangladesh Travel Guides

Travel concierge · Visit Bangladesh safely · Visa guide · Dhaka airport arrival · Money & SIM · 7–10 day itinerary · Cox's Bazar · Sundarbans · Sylhet & Srimangal · Visiting home as an NRB

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best place to shop in Dhaka?

It depends on what you want: Aarong for fixed-price handloom and gifts, Mirpur Benarasi Palli for silk sarees, New Market for fabric and everyday items, Jamuna Future Park or Bashundhara City for malls, and Nilkhet for books.

What should I buy in Dhaka as a souvenir?

Jamdani or Tangail sarees, panjabis, nakshi kantha, leather goods, jute products, rickshaw art, shital pati, brass or kansa items, and tea or spices.

Should I bargain in Dhaka?

Yes in markets, politely. Malls and Aarong have fixed prices.

Do Dhaka shops accept credit cards?

Malls and Aarong usually do. Many market shops are cash only, so carry taka.

Can I ship my Dhaka shopping home?

Yes. I can collect, pack and ship your purchases with tracking by DHL, FedEx or EMS after you leave.

Last updated: 6 October 2026. Written by Nazrul Islam, personal shopper in Dhaka.