Transport in Dhaka consists of a mixture of cars, buses, rickshaws, motorcycles, and pedestrians, all vying for space in an environment where congestion is a daily challenge.

The average traffic speed is less than seven kilometres per hour (4.3 mph), the slowest in the world,[1] and congestion was estimated to cost the economy US$6.5 billion in 2020.

Motorcycles are rapidly gaining popularity as a personal transport mode, partly due to online ride-sharing services.

Major projects, such as the construction of metro rail systems, flyovers, and dedicated bus lanes, are underway to alleviate the traffic burden and provide more reliable public transit options.

The rail line was laid almost parallel to the Mughal-era road, running from Tongi through Tejgaon, Kawran Bazar to the Shahbag area.

It formed a loop around Ramna, then turned east, cutting through the Nimtali-Fulbaria area before heading south towards Fatullah and Narayanganj.

[8] Starting in 1958, the government redirected part of the railway line from Tejgaon to Khilgaon and then to Kamalapur, removing the previous east–west barrier that cut through the middle of the growing city, impeding traffic flow.

Mawla Bakhsh, a mechanic formerly employed by a British-owned workshop, opened his own business, India Motor Works.

[11] After World War II, Bakhsh purchased several trucks auctioned off by the Allied forces and retrofitted them for passenger transport.

They operated from Bahadur Shah Park to Narayanganj, carrying 20–22 seated passengers on plank benches along the sides, with 40–50 standing in the middle.

Post-war, Tejgaon Airport was repurposed for civil use, when the privately owned Orient Airways operated DC-3 (Dakota) and DHC-6 (Twin Otter) aircraft there until it was succeeded by Pakistan International Airlines in 1948.

[16][needs update] Public buses in Dhaka are primarily operated by numerous private companies, with a minority run by the state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC).

[20][21] Data from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in 2023 indicated that 3,794 buses owned by 75 companies have route permits, although 871 lack fitness clearances.

[25][22] A significant portion of the public transportation fleet in Dhaka operates without the required fitness certifications, many characterised by unhygienic and uncomfortable interiors, featuring broken windows, damaged seats, compromised bus bodies, and malfunctioning brake and indicator lights.

[29][30] Government efforts to address issues with public buses in the city, such as introducing a minimum wage for drivers,[25] consolidating bus routes with the Dhaka Nagar Paribahan franchise,[31] and implementing electronic ticketing systems[32][33] in the early 2020s, have been unsuccessful.

[34][35][36] A 20-kilometre (12 mi) bus rapid transit system, the Dhaka BRT, is in construction (as of January 2025[update]) since 2017, projected to end by December 2025.

[51] Previously, suburban services to Narayanganj and Gazipur cities used diesel-electric multiple-unit (DEMU) trains imported from China.

[58][59] A passenger train service is also expected to run from Kolkata to the Tripura capital Agartala via Dhaka through the Akhaura–Agartala line opened in November 2023.

In September 2022, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) introduced a privately-operated speedboat service on two routes from Tongi, with three boats to Kadda and two to Ulukhola, operated by a private company.

[65] In 1967, the BIWTA constructed a modern naval terminal at Sadarghat, serving as the landing station for passenger ferries, locally called launch.

These 12-seater, four-wheeled modified utility vehicles, introduced in the 2000s, have faced criticism for using underage drivers, overcrowding, pollution, and frequent accidents.

[68][69] Unsuccessful efforts have been made to ban these mainly compressed natural gas-run vehicles, which do not have a set fare and allegedly face high extortion by the traffic police.

[70] Railway stations in Dhaka include: There are several bus terminals for inter-district services, located at Sayedabad, Mohakhali, and Gabtoli, serving the southern, northern, and western regions of the country respectively.

[91][92][93][94] Meanwhile, in the north-east, the Kanchan Bridge allows vehicles to enter the city through Purbachal township and provides access for those using the Dhaka Bypass Expressway.

[113][114] In May 2024, a regulation was introduced to limit motorcycle speeds in cities to 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph),[115] which have been banned on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.

[129][130][131] These vehicles are criticised for being unsafe due to their higher speeds and weak brakes,[132] as many are retrofitted cycle rickshaws, mainly limited to alleyways.

[13][126] Another variant have become more prevalent in the suburbs, locally called an "easybike," which is based on a larger, sturdier frame that is industrially manufactured for three-wheelers with a slightly higher passenger capacity.

[124][138] CNG-run auto-rickshaws were preceded by two-stroke yellow-and-black "baby taxis" that operated on petrol, which were banned in 2002 due to environmental concerns.

Additionally, the rise of contractual rides, where drivers avoid using the app to bypass commission fees, poses a significant issue.

[151] Domestic flights connect to Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Barisal, and Saidpur (Rangpur), and international services fly to major cities in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.