How Office Rent Works in Dhaka: Per-Sq-Ft Rates Explained

If you are opening or moving an office in Dhaka, the first surprise is usually the pricing. Commercial space is almost always quoted as a rate per square foot per month, not as a single monthly figure, and what that rate includes varies from building to building. This guide explains how office rent works in Dhaka, what different rates buy in each district, and the checks that protect you before you sign.

It is written for country managers, finance and HR teams, NGO operations staff and founders who need to compare buildings quickly and brief head office with realistic numbers. All rates quoted come from properties Rent Property currently lists.

How much is office rent per square foot in Dhaka?

BDT per square foot per month, from 37 commercial floors in our portfolio. Updated 2026-11-08.

Summarised by district, the per-sq-ft rates in our current listings are:

Some smaller or unusual spaces are quoted as a monthly figure instead, for example a 9,000 sq ft office in Motijheel at BDT 500,000 a month, or a 650 sq ft shared office in Shewrapara at BDT 20,000.

How is office rent calculated in Dhaka?

Multiply the per-square-foot rate by the floor area. A 5,000 sq ft floor at BDT 150 per sq ft costs BDT 750,000 per month, before service charge. The table below shows how quickly the numbers move with size and rate.

Ask whether the quoted area is the usable floor or a gross figure that includes a share of lobbies, stairs and toilets. Two floors quoted at the same size can offer quite different usable space.

Which Dhaka district suits your office?

Gulshan is the default for international organisations that need a recognised address close to embassies and senior staff housing. It carries the highest rates, and the best buildings offer full generator back-up, several lifts and managed parking.

Banani offers similar access at noticeably lower rates in our listings, with plenty of restaurants and services for staff. It suits teams of ten to a hundred people.

Tejgaon and Mohakhali provide large, efficient floors at moderate rates, useful for operations, call centres and head offices that need space more than a Gulshan address. Tejgaon listings include floors of up to 40,000 sq ft.

Uttara and Nikunja sit near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the Airport Road, which helps companies with frequent travel or staff living in the north of the city.

Progoti Sarani and Badda are the most economical options in our listings and work well for support teams and growing businesses.

Think about where your staff will live as well. International staff usually rent in Gulshan, Banani or Baridhara, so an office in the same corridor saves hours of commuting each week. If you are moving people as well as opening an office, our corporate relocation service can handle both.

What is included in the rate, and what is extra?

The per-sq-ft rate normally covers the space only. Expect to agree separately:

• Service charge — either per sq ft or a flat monthly figure. Establish which, and what it covers; lift maintenance, guards, common-area electricity and water are the usual inclusions.
• Electricity — usually metered to your floor.
• Generator — whether back-up covers air-conditioning, and whether generator fuel is charged separately.
• Parking — typically around one bay per 1,000–1,500 sq ft, sometimes charged extra.
• Advance and deposit — commercial landlords commonly ask for several months in advance; the amount is negotiable and should be written into the lease.

What should you check before signing an office lease?

• Is the building legally commercial? Your trade licence is issued against the address. A residential building informally used as offices can block your licence, your VAT registration and ultimately your banking.
• Generator capacity. Ask what the generator actually carries. Many Dhaka buildings run lifts and lights on back-up but not air-conditioning, which is unworkable for a floor of staff during a long outage.
• Parking ratio. Confirm the allocation in writing; verbal promises evaporate.
• Service charge basis. Per sq ft or flat, what is included, and how it can be increased.
• Fire safety. Two protected exits, working extinguishers and a current certificate. This is a condition of occupancy for most international employers.
• Lifts and access. Enough lifts for peak arrival times, and access hours that suit your working week.
• Fit-out terms. Who pays for partitions, cabling and air-conditioning, and what must be removed when you leave.

Can you run an office from a residential building?

It often happens, but it carries real risk. A building needs commercial land use and the correct clearances for your trade licence to be issued against that address. Always verify the building's status before signing. This is the single most common and most expensive mistake foreign occupiers make in Dhaka, and it can be very costly to fix once you have fitted out and moved staff in. If in doubt, ask your lawyer or company secretary to review the building documents.

Furnished office or bare floor?

Most Dhaka office space is let as a bare or semi-fitted floor, and the tenant pays for fit-out. Our listings also include furnished offices in Gulshan and Banani, which let a small team start work within days and avoid upfront furniture and cabling costs. They usually suit teams of up to thirty people, or a first office while a permanent floor is fitted out.

What about warehouses and factories?

Industrial space is priced in the same way but at much lower rates. In our current listings, warehouses and a factory in Gazipur (including Tongi) and Savar (Ashulia) range from BDT 15 to BDT 22 per sq ft, in units of 12,000–25,000 sq ft. Check road access for heavy vehicles, floor loading, power supply and fire safety before committing.

How long are office leases in Dhaka?

Commercial leases are usually longer than residential ones, commonly several years, with a rent increase agreed at fixed intervals. Negotiate the length, the increase and any break option together, and get all three in writing. A longer term usually gives you more room to negotiate on rate, advance and fit-out.

How much space does your team need?

As a rough planning figure, many firms allow around 80–120 sq ft per person for an open-plan office once meeting rooms, reception and a pantry are included; cellular offices and large boardrooms push that higher. A team of 40 might therefore look at roughly 3,500–5,000 sq ft. Plan for growth over the lease term, because moving office in Dhaka takes time and fit-out money.

What does a new office cost in the first year?

As a worked example, take a 5,000 sq ft floor in Banani at BDT 120 per sq ft:

• monthly rent: 5,000 × 120 = BDT 600,000;
• annual rent: BDT 7,200,000;
• if the landlord asks for three months in advance: BDT 1,800,000 payable at signing;
• plus service charge, electricity, generator fuel, parking and your fit-out.

Fit-out costs vary widely with specification, so get quotes early and agree in writing who owns the fit-out at the end of the lease.

How does leasing an office with Rent Property work?

1. We agree your brief: size, district, headcount, budget and move-in date.
2. We shortlist buildings and check commercial status, generator, lifts, parking and fire safety.
3. We arrange viewings, in person or by video.
4. We help you negotiate rate, advance, service charge and fit-out terms.
5. We coordinate the lease and handover, and remain your point of contact afterwards.

How can Rent Property help?

Our commercial listings range from 650 to 40,000 sq ft. Through our commercial office leasing service, we shortlist buildings against your brief, check the practical points above in person, arrange viewings and help you negotiate. You can also browse available office space directly.

Ask us on WhatsApp

Tell us the floor area you need, your preferred district, headcount and budget per sq ft, and we will send suitable options. Message Rent Property on WhatsApp at +880 1784-222255 — we usually reply within one working day, Saturday to Thursday, 9:00–19:00.