Ruposhi Bangla to be closed down today for renovation:Daily Sun

A partial view of Ruposhi Bangla Hotel Ruposhi Bangla Hotel (RBH), the state-owned oldest five-star hotel in the capital, will be closed down today for two years for its renovation work as per the suggestion of Intercontinental Hotels Group. Intercontinental Hotels Group, a multinational company, will take over Ruposhi Bangla Hotel for a 30-year period from the government for its commercial operat
ions. State-run company Bangladesh Services Ltd (BSL) which owns the five-star hotel has started removing furniture and fixtures from the establishment on Saturday. The BSL authorities will sign an agreement with the employees of the hotel today on confirmation of their jobs during the renovation period and payment of salaries and other benefits. RBH sources said the agreement is also to confirm reinstatement of the employees to their respective position after renovation and even after taking over it by Intercontinental Hotels Group. When contacted over phone, tourism and aviation minister Rashed Khan Menon said, “Yes, we are going to sign an agreement with the hotel employees.” Currently, the RBH employs over 700 employees and workers. “The agreement is to avoid any resentment among us,” an employee said on condition of anonymity. According to RBH sources, the renovation work will cost around Tk. 400 crore. Earlier, the hotel operated by another multinational company Sheraton Hotels Group and renamed in 2010 as Ruposhi Bangla Hotel by the government after completion of the contract period with Sheraton. Sources said that the BSL suffered huge loss every year due to weak management of the RBH. The BSL had reached a lease agreement with Intercontinental in 2012 with a view to providing improved services to local and foreign clients. Bangladesh, meanwhile, drew global attention by attaining 6.0 percent GDP growth average year-on-year and experiencing a huge flow of foreign investors and partners in recent years. The RBH has historical importance as the then Intercontinental had housed some 50 foreign journalists who worked to cover 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. The hotel had 272 suits with all facilities as per international approved standards.