Bangladeshis reputed for her handicrafts. Exquisite hand made articles with a large variety are readily available and prices are cheap. Cottage industry products like fabrics, printed sarees, pink pearls, wood products, coconut masks, folk dolls, horn products, shital pati (mattress having cooling effect), terracotta toys and jute products for decorative purposes are very typical of Bangladesh. Brasswares, delicate silver trinkets, beautiful objects of ivory, embroidered silk sarees, scarves, purses, bamboo decoration pieces, cane and conch shell products, gold and silver ornament, jute carpets and a host of other attractive handicrafts can be bought in the shops, at the handicraft sale centres and galleries in the cities and also at tourist spots. But what really steal the heart of a lady and enchants menfolk are the rich brocades, the silk and cotton sarees and stoles embroidered with silver and golden thread. And, who has not heard of the famous 'Muslin' of Dhaka which used to be the favourite of the Royalties. These are still available.

Shopping Centres:

For Handicrafts

• Kanak, Vogue, Champak, Joya (Dhaka Sheraton Hotel) Ph: (880-2) 8613391(Extn.8593)

• Karika, Chandan (DIT Super Market) Ph: (880-2) 504362

• Karu Palli, 5 Kawran Bazar, Dhaka-1215 Ph: (880-2) 9115182

• Aarong, Adel Plaza,Lalmatia, Mirpur Road, Dhaka. Ph: (880-2) 8111607

• Asha , Mirpur Road, Dhaka)

For Brasswares

• Upahar, Otobi (New Elephant Road)

• Sonargaon Hotel Shopping Arcade.

For General Shopping

Eastern Plaza-Hatirpul Bangbandhu Avenue-Gulisthan Banga Bazar Market Stadium Arcade Baitul Mukarram Market New Market Chandni Chawk Market Gaushia Market

New Elephant Road DIT Super Market Shahbagh Shopping Arcade Mouchak Polwel Shopping Centre- Naya Paltan Green Super Market Gulshan Market-1 & 2 Bishal Centre- Magh Bazar

Duty free Shop:

Duty free Shops at Zia International Airport and City Sales Centre at mahakhali Run by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (NCT) and known to be one of world's cheapest offer shopping facilities of wide range of internationally known products.

These shops enjoy the reputation of being well established with a side range of goods at unbeatable prices. Goods available include wines and spirits, perfumes, cigarettes, Hi-Fi stereo and audio visual equipment like T.V. Radio. Recorder VCR, VCP, Cameras, Watches and a range of household appliances. Al purchase must be paid for in foreign currency. DHAKA Founded in 1608, as the seat of the imperial Mughal Viceroys of Bengal, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh has grown from quiet little town to a bustling busy city of 700 mosques.Dhaka is now throbbing with industrial and commercial activities.