Bangladesh · Dhaka Division · Dhaka
Motijheel, Dhaka — Area Guide & Where to Stay
Motijheel, whose name means 'Lake of Pearls', is the main central business district of Dhaka and the largest commercial hub of Bangladesh.
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Where to stay in Motijheel
The practical side of choosing where to sleep.
Motijheel suits business travellers. The Bangladesh Bank, the head offices of Sonali, Janata, Agrani, and Rupali banks, and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry are all here, and the Dhaka Metro Rail serves the district. The Purbani Hotel opened in the 1960s.
New business districts elsewhere in Dhaka have since led to its neglect.
Find hotels in Motijheel
Direct booking search for this neighbourhood.
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Things to do in and around Dhaka
Ranked by global recognition; descriptions from Wikidata (CC0).
Museums & Galleries
3- Bangladesh National Museum
- Museum of Independence
- National Art Gallery
Churches & Religious Sites
3- Armenian Church
- St Thomas Church Dhaka
- St. Mary’s Cathedral, Dhaka
Castles & Historic Sites
2- Greek Memorial, Dhaka
- July Memorial Monument, Shahbag
Stadiums & Sports
3- Suhrawardy Udyan
- Outer Stadium Ground
- Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium
Landmarks & Notable Places
1- State Guest House Sugandha
worth knowingacross 5 categories in and around Dhaka
About Motijheel
What are the main landmarks in Motijheel?
The Bangabhaban, the presidential palace, stands in the Bangabhaban Gardens, once the Nawab's gardens at Dilkusha. The Bangladesh Bank building was for many years the tallest in the country, and City Centre Dhaka held that title from 2012 to 2025. Earlier, the clocktower of the Dhaka Improvement Trust building was the tallest structure in East Pakistan.
Shapla Square and Balaka Square are well-known roundabouts.
What is the history of Motijheel?
Under the Bengal Sultanate the Sufi preacher Shah Jalal Dakhini lived here, and his tomb lies within the grounds of the Bangabhaban. Armenians lived here too. The area was long known as Dilkusha, site of the Dilkusha gardens of the Nawab of Dhaka, and later held a residence of the governor of Bengal, then the seat of the Governor of East Pakistan.
After partition Motijheel grew into the city's business district in the 1950s and 1960s, and Notre Dame College moved to its campus here in 1954.
Where is Motijheel?
Motijheel is part of downtown Dhaka. Old Dhaka lies to the south and Ramna to the north-west, with Paltan to the west, Khilgaon and Sabujbagh to the east, and the city's zero point right beside it.
Common questions
What is the best area to stay in Motijheel?
Motijheel: Business travellers with meetings at the banks and chambers of commerce.
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More areas in Dhaka
Updated October 2026