On 26 December 1950, the agricultural, cooperation and aid ministry officially declared to establish a zoo in Dhaka.

Hence the zoo started that time near Dhaka high court with several spotted deer, monkey and elephant.

Later, after acquiring animals from internal and from foreign countries, the zoo inaugurated at its present location on 23 June 1974.

[8][1] The zoo exhibits 58 species of mammals, including elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, zebras, waterbucks, otters, hyenas, deer, giraffes, impala, black bears, tapirs, hippos, lions, many species of monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, and Bengal tigers.

[4] The zoo is noted by international agencies as corrupt, and when two black rhinoceros were sent from South Africa to Dhaka in 2013, conservation groups in South Africa expressed concerns over of appalling treatment of animals, calling it a "Hell hole.