Microplastics (MP) contamination of urban waterway bodies like canals is a growing concern, which acts as pathways for MPs to reach riverine and marine ecosystems, posing threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Urban canals become a source of MPs due to indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste, disposal of surface runoff and industrial effluents. This study examines the prevalence, characteristics and ecological risks of MPs in 5 urban canals of Dhaka city, Bangladesh, named Kallyanpur, Gobindapur, Norail, Digun, and Abdullahpur Canal. Both sediment and water samples from each canal were collected and analyzed for the characteristics, abundance of MPs and their loading to the receiving rivers. The findings revealed a significant presence of MPs, with sediment samples containing notably higher MPs than water samples. Fibers and fragments shapes MPs are the most common, transparent color MPs dominating in both water and sediment samples. MPs sizes range between 0.5–1.0 mm, indicates that MPs originate from disintegration of larger plastics deposited into canals by weathering actions. The highest concentrations of MPs and associated ecological risks were found in regions with substantial industrial and urban runoff. This study emphasizes the urgent need for mitigation of MPs pollutants in urban canals including improvement of waste management, segregation of plastics waste at source, impose restriction on disposal of plastics waste into urban canals and increase of public awareness.