Around the lake
Walk the lakeside and Manik Mia Avenue for the classic views of Kahn's concrete forms reflected in the water.
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Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House)
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One of 25 Things to Do in Dhaka
In short
Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, is Bangladesh's parliament building, designed by Louis Kahn, completed in 1982 and set in an artificial lake. Its lakeside grounds are free to walk and a key stop for architecture lovers. There are no published visiting hours, and going inside needs prior permission from the Parliament Secretariat. Allow about an hour around the grounds.
Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the National Parliament House of Bangladesh, is the seat of the country's parliament in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, central Dhaka, designed by the American architect Louis Kahn and completed in 1982. Its lakeside grounds and Manik Mia Avenue are free and open to the public, which makes it a key stop for architecture lovers; the building itself needs prior permission.
Planned in the 1960s and designed by Kahn
The complex was first planned in the early 1960s, when Dhaka had been declared the second capital of Pakistan. Land was acquired in 1961, and on the advice of the Bangladeshi architect Muzharul Islam the government invited Kahn to design it. Construction began in 1964.
Work stopped during the 1971 Liberation War, and the new state of Bangladesh resumed it in 1974 as its own national parliament. Kahn died in New York on 17 March 1974 with the project far from finished, and his former associate David Wisdom oversaw the rest. The building was completed on 28 January 1982 and opened on 15 February 1982. It won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Nine blocks and giant geometric cut-outs on 210 acres
The complex covers about 210 acres of lawns, plazas and water. The main building has nine blocks: eight outer blocks about 34 metres high grouped around a central octagonal block about 47 metres (155 feet) high. Huge circles, triangles and rectangles are cut through the concrete façades, shading the inner rooms while letting in daylight.
At the centre, the assembly chamber seats up to 354 members under a parabolic shell roof that lets light filter down from above. Offices and lounges fill the outer blocks. An artificial lake wraps around three sides, so the building seems to rise from the water. The complex also includes the South Plaza and the Presidential Plaza with its marble steps.
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Key information
🏛️Type: National Parliament House of Bangladesh
📐Architect: Louis Kahn, with Muzharul Islam; completed by David Wisdom
⛏️Built: 1964–1982; inaugurated 15 February 1982
🏆Award: Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1989)
📏Complex: About 210 acres; central octagonal block about 155 ft high
🕕Time Zone: Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6)
Explore the area
Chandrima Udyan (Zia Udyan) 500 m
Manik Mia Avenue next to the complex
Bangabandhu Novo Theatre 2 km
Farmgate 1.5 km
Bijoy Sarani metro station (MRT Line 6) 1 km
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Plan your visit to Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House)
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
Architecture
- Nine blocks around a central octagon
- Huge circles, triangles and rectangles cut into the concrete
- Parabolic shell roof over the chamber
Landscape
- Artificial lake on three sides
- South Plaza and Presidential Plaza
- Lawns along Manik Mia Avenue
Inside (by permission)
- Parliament chamber seating up to 354 members
- Light-filled galleries and corridors
What They Offer
Grounds
Lakeside lawns and Manik Mia Avenue open to the public
Building tours
Interior visits only with prior permission from the Parliament Secretariat
Entry
No fee for the grounds
Visit duration
1 hour around the grounds
Timed entry required No
Request a tour
Foreign visitors can apply to the Parliament Secretariat in advance for permission to see the interior.
Chandrima Udyan
Continue to the park and lake bridge north of the complex.
Accessibility
Wide paved avenues and lawns around the complex; interior access is restricted.
Age limits
None for the grounds.
What to pack
Passport details for any permitted interior visit, water
What to wear
Modest clothing
Not allowed
Entering restricted areas or the building without permission, drones, photography where security staff prohibit it
Amenities
Street food and vendors along Manik Mia Avenue; no visitor centre.
Tips for visiting Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
- Bring your passport if you plan to ask for permission to enter.
- View the building from Manik Mia Avenue or across the lake for the best photographs.
- Follow security instructions and avoid photographing guards or checkpoints.
- Visit in the late afternoon when the light on the concrete is softer.
- Expect heavy traffic around Farmgate; use the metro where possible.
Driving
In central Dhaka on Manik Mia Avenue; traffic is heavy, parking limited.
Public transportation
Dhaka Metro Rail (MRT Line 6) to Bijoy Sarani, about 1 km away, or Farmgate, then a short walk; buses along Mirpur Road. Roads around Farmgate are congested, so the metro is the easier option.
Address
The Parliament House stands in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, central Dhaka, along Manik Mia Avenue. Chandrima Udyan is about 500 m north; the Bangabandhu Novo Theatre is about 2 km away.
Opening Hours
Access can be restricted during sessions, state events and security alerts.
No published visiting hours. The building is a high-security area: visits inside need prior permission from the Parliament Secretariat and are usually possible only when Parliament is not in session.
Special events
National days such as Independence Day (26 March) and Victory Day (16 December) bring ceremonies and restrictions.
Best times to visit
Late afternoon light on the concrete and lake.
Best days to visit
Fridays, when traffic is lighter.
Best months to visit
November to February.
Admission tickets
Entry is free.
Parliament House Grounds: Free
The grounds are free; interior visits require prior permission.
- Free access to the public grounds
Admission
Free entry: no ticket or booking is needed.
Opening hours
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
No booking needed.
Children and admission
Children welcome on the grounds.
Groups
Group interior visits need advance permission from the Parliament Secretariat.
Pets
No pets in the restricted complex.
Photography
Exterior photography from public areas is common; follow security staff, avoid photographing guards or checkpoints. Drones are prohibited.
Bags
No restrictions.
Smoking
Not permitted in the complex.
Accepted payment
Free; no payment needed.
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Travelers are asking
Only with prior permission from the Parliament Secretariat; it is a high-security area.
Louis Kahn, working with Muzharul Islam; it was completed in 1982.
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Stay in Dhaka
Where to stay near Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House)
Hotels closest to Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House), nearest first, so you spend less time on the road and more time there.
Dhaka
Hotel Nandini3-star hotel
No reviews yet1.0 km from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
from$47.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Fitness center
- Air conditioning
5 Rooms available
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Dhaka
Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka5-star hotel
5.0Excellent1 reviewFree cancellation
1.8 km from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
from$65.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
8 Rooms available
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Dhaka
Amari Dhaka5-star hotel
No reviews yet5.1 km from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
from$98.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
6 Rooms available
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Dhaka
Six Seasons Hotel5-star hotel
No reviews yet5.4 km from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
from$81.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
5 Rooms available
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Dhaka
Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden5-star hotel
4.9Excellent2 reviewsFree cancellation
6.8 km from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
from$67.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
7 Rooms available
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Dhaka
Le Méridien Dhaka5-star hotel
5.0Excellent1 review8.6 km from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
from$240.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
6 Rooms available
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers based on published references and Bangladesh Parliament information.
General
The American architect Louis Kahn designed the building, working with Bangladeshi architect Muzharul Islam. After Kahn died in 1974, his former colleague David Wisdom saw the project through to completion in 1982.
The surrounding grounds are open to the public, but the main building is restricted to members, staff and approved visitors. Foreign tourists can apply for permission to tour inside, which may require a fee and identification. Contact the Parliament Secretariat in advance.
The parliament complex covers about 210 acres. The main building has eight outer blocks around a central octagonal block about 155 feet high, and an artificial lake surrounds three sides of it.
Yes. Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989. It is widely studied by architects for its use of light, concrete and geometry.
No. Drones are prohibited at the complex, and photography must follow security staff instructions.
Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House) is in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The street address and directions are under How to get there on this page.
Modest clothing.
Timing & weather
Construction began in 1964, paused during the 1971 Liberation War and resumed in 1974. The building was completed on 28 January 1982 and inaugurated on 15 February 1982.
Late afternoon, when the low sun softens the concrete and the lake reflects the building. November to February has the clearest weather.
Most visitors spend 1 hour around the grounds at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House).
Prices & payment
No. The public grounds, lake shore and Manik Mia Avenue are free to visit.
Getting there
Bijoy Sarani station on MRT Line 6 is about 1 km away. Farmgate station is also within walking distance.
You can reach Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House) by public transport or by car. Both routes are described under How to get there on this page.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) is the airport for Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House), about 10 km away in a straight line.
Booking
The assembly chamber seats up to 354 members under a parabolic shell roof.