What's on in Dhaka (Bangladesh), Bangladesh through the year

Busy — Bishwa Ijtema, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Bishwa Ijtema

  5 Jan – 20 Feb · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  Millions gather at Tongi on the Turag over two weekend phases, one of the largest annual assemblies anywhere. The northern approaches and the airport road stop working for the duration, which is the part a visitor feels. Source ↗

Still on: Dry-season air (15 Nov – 28 Feb)

Busy — Bishwa Ijtema, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Bishwa Ijtema (5 Jan – 20 Feb (usually)), Dry-season air (15 Nov – 28 Feb)

Busy — Eid exodus, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Eid exodus

  20–23 MarRamadan & EidClosuresBook early

  Millions leave for their home districts and the city goes briefly quiet and walkable, which it never otherwise is. Buses, trains and launches out are booked weeks ahead and the ghats are genuinely dangerous with the crush. Source ↗

Busy — Pohela Boishakh, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Pre-monsoon heat

  1 Apr – 25 May · usuallyExtreme heat

  Heat warnings shut the schools in the worst weeks and the load-shedding follows the demand, so the air conditioning is not a guarantee. Rickshaw pullers stop between noon and three, which is good advice. Source ↗

• Festival

  Pohela Boishakh

  14 AprMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  The Bengali new year opens with singing at Ramna at first light and the Mangal Shobhajatra procession out of the university's fine arts faculty, a UNESCO-listed one. Red and white everywhere and the centre closed to traffic. Source ↗

Still on: Eid exodus (20–23 Mar)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Pre-monsoon heat (1 Apr – 25 May (usually))

Quiet — travelers describe it as quiet, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Busy — Durga Puja, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Durga Puja

  25 Sep – 25 Oct · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Old Dhaka builds pandals for five days and Dhakeshwari runs at capacity throughout. The immersion procession down to the Buriganga closes the riverside roads on the last evening. Source ↗

Busy — Durga Puja, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Durga Puja (25 Sep – 25 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Dry-season air

  15 Nov – 28 FebWinter smog

  Brick kilns fire through the dry months, the construction dust never stops, and the city trades places with Delhi and Lahore at the top of the daily air rankings. It is at its worst exactly when the weather is at its most pleasant. Source ↗

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Dry-season air (15 Nov – 28 Feb)