Bangladesh is in the middle of a major tobacco-law tightening, which makes its airport smoking situation unusually uncertain. Dhaka’s main airport still lists two indoor smoking rooms on its official website, but a national ordinance approved on 30 December 2025 abolished designated smoking areas in public places and criminalized vaping — so those rooms may be closing.
For international travel through Bangladesh, Dhaka (DAC) is the airport that matters, as Biman’s hub and the busiest in the country.
How Bangladeshi Airport Smoking Works
The legal picture changed sharply at the end of 2025:
- The official Dhaka airport site lists two indoor smoking rooms after security (near gates 5 and 9)
- BUT the 30 December 2025 ordinance abolishes designated smoking areas in public places — the rooms may have to close
- E-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco are now a criminal offence (import, sale and use) — up to six months’ jail
- The public-smoking fine was raised; assume the terminal is becoming fully smoke-free
The Hub
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC). Bangladesh’s main gateway and Biman’s hub. The official site lists two indoor smoking rooms in the international departures concourse — one opposite boarding gate 5, one opposite gate 9 — after security. Their operational status is now uncertain under the December 2025 ban. The new Terminal 3 is not yet open to regular passengers.
Tips for Smokers at Bangladeshi Airports
- Dhaka’s airside smoking rooms (gates 5 and 9) are officially listed, but a December 2025 ban may have closed them — check on arrival
- Do not bring a vape to Bangladesh — e-cigarettes are now criminalized, with possible jail time
- Assume the terminal is becoming fully smoke-free; plan to smoke before security where possible
- Public smoking outside designated areas carries a fine
Bangladesh Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security
| Airport | After security | Indoor room | Outdoor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) | Yes | Yes | – |