Dhaka has a rich history dating back 400 years. According to legend, pre-Mughal Dhaka comprised 52 bazaars and 53 alleys. During this time, the major settlement was located between the rivers Buriganga and Dholai Khal, with its centre around Bangla Bazar. Dhaka developed in the commercial sector under the Mughal, and it spanned the region currently known as old Dhaka. Today the commercial areas have spread and got into a new shape. Let’s take a look at the prime commercial areas in Dhaka city in the twenty-first century.

Top 8 Important Commercial Areas in Dhaka City

Motijheel

The central business district of mega city Dhaka is located here. It stands in the city's center, as the General Post Office is considered the zero point of Dhaka. There are more offices and business institutions in Motijheel than in any other area of the city, making it the main business and commercial centre of Dhaka. 

The majority of corporate headquarters in the country are located there. The majority of corporate headquarters in the country are located there. This is the neighbourhood that contains the City Center, Bangladesh Bank Building, Agrani Bank Bhaban, WAPDA Bhaban, Janata Bank Bhaban, Sena Kalyan Bhaban, Dhaka Stock Exchange, Ittefaq Bhaban, Rajuk Bhaban, and many other major enterprises. 

Read Share Market Investment Guide: How to Invest in Stocks in Bangladesh

Motijheel is home to some of the most prestigious educational institutions in Bangladesh, including Notre Dame College (NDC) and Ideal school and college. Numerous news, magazine, print, and other media companies have their headquarters here. Dhaka Railway Station is not far from Motijheel. The focal point where all of the main access roads to the area meet is Shapla Square's famous landmark.

BDT 60 to 100 per square foot will be a price range for commercial office premises. However, the price may vary depending on specific locations and structure types.

Gulshan

Businesses demand modern office space, technology, proper parking, security, emergency preparedness, and safety. Gulshan can offer all of these facilities, beyond its residential zones. In recent years, Gulshan has emerged as one of the prime business districts of Dhaka. Many significant corporations in Bangladesh have headquarters in Gulshan.

Read Best Instagrammable Rooftop Restaurants at Gulshan in Dhaka

Some large-scale enterprises purchased their property in Gulshan and established permanent offices to achieve personalization and distinctive branding. While many business companies and startups want to rent commercial premises in Gulshan. All of these initiatives are resulting in good business environments. 

As a consequence, the number of office spaces on a flexible budget in Gulshan is progressively increasing. BDT 40 to 60 per square foot will be a price range for commercial office premises.

Kawran Bazar

Near Kawran Bazar was where a customs checkpoint stood during the Mughal era. Since the 17th century, there have been markets in the Kawran Bazar region. Kawran Singh, a Marwari trader, founded a market in the region in the late 18th century. After him, the market was given the name Kawran Bazar. It gained notoriety as a market for domestic goods like ceramics and crockery by the late 19th century.

Read How to Transform Your Freelancing Career into a Scalable Business?

One of the largest commodity marketplaces in Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh, is the business sector known as Kawran Bazar. The Dhaka North City Corporation has categorised it as a business district. Here is where the largest local wholesale market for fruits in Bangladesh is.

One of the biggest wholesale markets in Dhaka is this one. It is also one of South Asia's biggest markets. The market contained 1255 stores as of 2002, of which the Dhaka City Corporation held 55. The wholesale market earned 50 million Bangladeshi Taka per day in 2002.

In Dhaka, Kawran Bazar has grown to be a significant business area. Here you can find the main offices of Prothom Alo, the Daily Star, The Independent, and various other publications. Additionally, Kawran Bazar is home to the offices and studios for the television networks Ekushey Television, NTV, ATN Bangla, ATN News, Banglavision, and ABC Radio. Here was where Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology's main campus was situated.

Read Where to Learn Car Driving in Dhaka?

In the Monem Business District's Kawran Bazar, Samsung Electronics has an R&D facility. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh and the Export Promotion Bureau, EPB of Bangladesh both have their headquarters at Kawran Bazar.

The price per square foot for office space is somewhere between BDT 50 and BDT 80.

Uttara

Because of its size, infrastructure, and near self-sufficiency, Dhaka's northernmost sector Uttara is sometimes referred to as a powerhouse. In a little over 20 years, Uttara has grown into a lively town comparable to Gulshan and Mirpur. As a result, it's no wonder that Uttara is now one of Dhaka's fastest-growing business neighbourhoods. 

Read Seafood restaurants in Dhaka to remind you the taste of ocean

The new trend of establishing workplaces in the neighbourhood has raised the demand for  apartments several-fold in Uttara. The offices in Uttara also benefit from being close to one of Dhaka's major departure points. This is a great advantage for any firm that distributes goods throughout the nation or receives supplies from various regions of the country.

 BDT 50 to 70 per square foot will be a price range for commercial office premises.

Mirpur

Mirpur, like Uttara, is a self-sufficient town in its own right. In Mirpur, there are schools, retail malls, colleges, hospitals, and government organisations. The best benefit of the Mirpur area is that you can get to any part of Dhaka city from Mirpur. There are several modes of transportation accessible here. 

Read Accelerating Asia Invests in Three Bangladeshi Startups

Development of commercial zones is in an early stage at Mirpur. However, Mirpur's large client base, well-connectedness, and economical office spaces make it ideal for hosting offices and other commercial uses. Many banks, organisations, firms, and startups are setting up offices here. 

BDT 50 to 100 per square foot will be a price range for commercial office premises.

Mohammadpur

Today, a lot of entrepreneurs are establishing their first offices in the Mohammadpur neighbourhood. Affordability and mobility are only two of the reasons why companies seek to establish a presence in Mohammadpur. Startups' desire for office space is changing Dhaka's first residential region into a business zone. 

Read B’Yeah: Shaping up the Youth Entrepreneurship Prospects in Bangladesh

Another reason why Mohammadpur is becoming one of Dhaka's more significant business zones is its proximity to key places like Mirpur, Dhanmondi, and even Old Town. This development is also not imposed on the people. Many landlords in the Mohammadpur region choose to rent out business space over residential space. BDT 40 to 60 per square foot will be a price range for commercial office premises.

Dhanmondi

Everybody adores Dhanmondi. It not only has the greatest universities but also houses the notorious Dhanmondi Lake, surrounded by high-end exquisite residences. Besides residents, there are many types of enterprises offered here, particularly eateries. Dhanmondi residents enjoy the good life, with excellent schools, a large range of clinics, open space for strolling, the Rabindra Sorobor open-air play, and much more. 

Dhanmondi is a residential zone, but in recent years, diverse organisations, corporate offices, firms, startups, and shopping malls are booming in this area. Although renting offices in commercial buildings in Dhanmondi might be pricey, the big client base makes it worthwhile. 

Read 300,000 VAT collecting machines to be installed in Dhaka, Ctg by pvt firm

BDT 100 to 150 per square foot will be a price range for commercial office premises.

Banani

While some claim that Gulshan is Dhaka's greatest business district, Banani is not far behind. Banani is adjacent to Dhaka's diplomatic zones, as well as high-value residential districts, world-class hospitals, foreign schools, and clubs. Banani can provide excellent access to neighbouring areas such as Mohakhali, Cantonment, and Bashundhara. Therefore, people can conveniently commute to Banani from other parts of Dhaka city. 

Developers are constructing special commercial spaces here. Startups in Bangladesh love Banani because they can rent large apartments and utilise them as temporary offices at a reduced cost while remaining near larger corporations. Consequently, premium and high-end companies prefer to concentrate their efforts on establishing offices in Banani to serve foreigners, celebrities, and high-profile personalities.

Read Top Instagrammable rooftop restaurants in Banani

BDT 90 to 110 per square foot will be a price range for commercial office premises.

Conclusion

Commercial areas are required today more than ever. It seems that Dhaka is shifting in terms of commercial centres. Previously, there was just the Motijheel area served as the primary business and commercial area of Dhaka as well as Bangladesh. But the increase in consumerism, middle-class workforce, and the availability of luxury resulted in tremendous economic growth. The population surge also supported Dhaka's development.

Consequently, there is no longer a single commercial area in the mega city Dhaka. There are various areas in Dhaka that have the potential to become major commercial hubs. While Gulshan takes the top rank, the other sites are worth keeping an eye on, as they may transform the city's dynamics in a few years!

Read Making Investment Decisions: Factors to consider when investing money.