All direct flights to Dhaka from the UK & Ireland

Mark Says

Home to seven million people, the capital of Bangladesh is amongst Asia's foremost centres of business. Yet the nation's relative poverty, and the failure of the country's politicians to address this issue, is very much apparent from the city's streets. This is a busy and bustling destination, heavy on traffic and the attendant pollution, and its accommodation varies wildly: overseas visitors are greeted by a wealth of pricey five-star hotels, but there's a real dearth of mid-range and budget options, a fact that tells its own economic story. Hotels should be chosen with even more care than usual: Dhaka comes up short on entertainments, and much about your trip will depend on the services and attractions offered wherever you stay. Those attractions that are in evidence tend to be of a historical or religious nature. Churches, temples and mosques line most streets, and there's some notable architectural phenomena serving as reminders of the country's troubled colonial past, such as the imposing (and, symbolically, all-white) Old High Court building, former residence of the British High Governor. Then there's the Lalbag Fort, site of the first battle of independence against the British in 1857. For a fine overview of Bangladeshi history, try the National Museum, with its sections on nature, architectural design, history and politics, and comprehensive coverage of the War of Independence. Otherwise, Dhaka opens its arms wide for visitors with money to spend. Aarong is a four-floor department store that specialises in hand-crafted, locally-produced, traditional Bangladeshi creations, such as dolls, saris and baskets. The New Market is a combination mall-market, again operated primarily by local traders, offering a range of goods, from food to clothing. Haggling is a must here, and travellers are advised to expect to pay more or less over the odds, depending on the pigmentation of their skin. Any cry of reverse-racism, or gross financial exploitation, is likely to go unheard amongst those begging for their lives out on Dhaka's streets.