InterContinental Dhaka

InterContinental Dhaka is a landmark luxury hotel in Ramna, central Dhaka, Bangladesh. The property opened in 1966 as the Inter-Continental Dacca, when Dhaka was still known as Dacca and served as the capital of East Pakistan. Its opening made it the first international five-star hotel in the territory that would become Bangladesh. Designed by architect William B. Tabler, the hotel was established in a strategically important part of the city near Shahbag roundabout, Suhrawardy Udyan, Ramna Park, the Dhaka Club, the University of Dhaka, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, BIRDEM Hospital, the Bangladesh National Museum, and official state guest houses. The hotel became associated with important political and diplomatic activity before and during the creation of Bangladesh. In the period following the 1970 elections, it hosted negotiations connected with the transfer of power. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, the International Red Cross designated the property a neutral zone. The hotel nevertheless became involved in the conflict when it was attacked during the episode known as Operation Hotel Intercontinental; the fighting resulted in the deaths of Pakistani soldiers. The surrounding area also saw attacks by the Pakistani military on nearby newspaper offices and university buildings. InterContinental Hotels managed the property until 1983. It was then transferred to Sheraton management and operated as the Sheraton Dhaka Hotel. In 2011, Sheraton announced that it would end its management contract with the Bangladeshi government. The property subsequently operated under the name Ruposhi Bangla Hotel. In 2013, it was announced that InterContinental Hotels would return to manage the state-owned hotel after a major renovation program. The property closed on September 1, 2014, for the redevelopment and reopened on December 19, 2018, as InterContinental Dhaka. The current hotel combines the InterContinental brand with a historically significant state-owned property in the center of Dhaka. Its business scope includes hotel accommodation, food and beverage service, meetings, banqueting, and hospitality for business, diplomatic, and official visitors. The available reference material identifies rooms, meeting facilities, dining options, and executive-level accommodation among its principal offerings, although detailed current specifications are not established here. Its principal distinction is therefore not only its luxury positioning but also its continuity across several names, operators, and major phases of Bangladeshi political history.

InterContinental Dhaka began as the Inter-Continental Dacca in 1966, during the period when Dhaka was the capital of East Pakistan. Its opening established the first international five-star hotel in the territory that would later become Bangladesh. The building was designed by architect William B. Tabler and placed in Ramna, a central district surrounded by important civic, cultural, educational, medical, and diplomatic institutions. Its location near Shahbag roundabout, Suhrawardy Udyan, Ramna Park, the Dhaka Club, the University of Dhaka, the national museum, hospitals, and official guest houses helped make it a prominent venue for visitors to the capital. The hotel's early history overlapped with the political crisis that preceded Bangladesh's independence. It hosted political meetings and negotiations connected with the transfer of power after the 1970 elections. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, the International Red Cross declared the hotel a neutral zone. The designation did not completely insulate the property from the violence around it. The hotel was attacked during Operation Hotel Intercontinental, and Pakistani soldiers were killed in the action. Military attacks also affected nearby institutions and media offices in the surrounding neighborhoods. The property's operating identity changed several times after independence. InterContinental Hotels managed it until 1983, after which Sheraton assumed management and the hotel became known as the Sheraton Dhaka Hotel. In 2011, Sheraton announced that it would terminate its contract with the Bangladeshi government. The hotel then operated under the name Ruposhi Bangla Hotel. This phase preserved the property's role as a major Dhaka hotel while separating its public identity from both the InterContinental and Sheraton brands. In 2013, InterContinental Hotels was announced as the future manager once again, subject to a major renovation of the state-owned property. The hotel closed on September 1, 2014, for the work and later reopened on December 19, 2018, as InterContinental Dhaka. The reopening returned the property to the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts system and linked a historically important Dhaka building with IHG's international luxury-hotel brand. Today, InterContinental Dhaka is positioned as a luxury urban hotel serving accommodation, dining, meetings, banquets, business travel, and official or diplomatic hospitality. Its significance derives from the combination of international hotel branding, central location, long operating history, and direct association with the political and military events surrounding Bangladesh's independence. The available source material does not establish a detailed chronology of individual general managers, ownership transactions, financial results, or specific marketing campaigns, so those subjects are not expanded here.

• 2018

  Reopens as InterContinental Dhaka

  [1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  The renovated property reopens on December 19 under its current name.

• 2014

  Renovation closure begins

  [1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel closes on September 1 for renovation and its transition back to the InterContinental identity.

• 2013

  InterContinental management return announced

  [1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  InterContinental Hotels is selected to resume management after a major renovation of the state-owned property.

• 2011

  Sheraton management contract ends

  [1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  Sheraton announces its departure from the hotel, which is subsequently renamed Ruposhi Bangla Hotel.

• 1983

  Management transfers to Sheraton

  [1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  InterContinental Hotels ends its management period, and the property becomes the Sheraton Dhaka Hotel.

• 1971

  Neutral-zone designation and wartime attack

  [1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  The International Red Cross designates the hotel a neutral zone during the Bangladesh Liberation War; the property is later attacked during Operation Hotel Intercontinental.

• 1970

  Political negotiations take place at the hotel

  [1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  The property hosts important political activity and negotiations concerning the transfer of power after the 1970 elections.

• 1966

  Inter-Continental Dacca opens

  [1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel opens in central Dacca as the first international five-star hotel in the territory that would become Bangladesh.

Luxury urban hotel with a strong business, diplomatic, and heritage profile

• Hotel rooms and suites · 1966

  Guest accommodation

  The core offering is luxury hotel accommodation in central Dhaka. The property has served international visitors, business travelers, official guests, and diplomatic delegations across several operating identities. The supplied sources do not provide a current room inventory or detailed specifications.

• Hospitality and event services

  Meetings and events

  Meeting, conference, and banquet facilities form part of the hotel's business-hospitality scope. The property's central location and proximity to official, educational, medical, and cultural institutions support its role as a venue for business and formal gatherings.

• Food and beverage

  Dining services

  The hotel provides dining and food-and-beverage services as part of its full-service luxury-hotel proposition. The available source material confirms dining as a principal offering but does not establish a complete current list of restaurants, bars, or menus.

• 2018

  Reopening under the InterContinental Dhaka brandProduct launch

  Background

  The property had been closed since September 2014 for a major renovation.

  Action taken

  The renovated hotel reopened on December 19 as InterContinental Dhaka.

  Aftermath

  The reopening restored the property's association with the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand.

  Source

• 2013

  Return to InterContinental managementStrategy

  Background

  The state-owned property required a major renovation before returning to the international luxury brand.

  Action taken

  InterContinental Hotels was announced as the future manager.

  Aftermath

  The hotel closed for renovation in 2014 and ultimately reopened under the InterContinental Dhaka name in 2018.

  Source

• 2011

  Sheraton management exitStrategy

  Background

  Sheraton's management arrangement with the Bangladeshi government was ending.

  Action taken

  Sheraton announced that it would terminate its contract, after which the hotel was renamed Ruposhi Bangla Hotel.

  Aftermath

  The property later moved toward a renewed relationship with InterContinental Hotels.

  Source

• 1983

  Change from InterContinental to Sheraton managementStrategy

  Background

  InterContinental Hotels had managed the hotel since its opening in 1966.

  Action taken

  Management transferred to Sheraton, and the property adopted the Sheraton Dhaka Hotel name.

  Aftermath

  The property continued operating as a major Dhaka hotel under a different international brand.

  Source

• 2018

  InterContinental Dhaka reopens[1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Following the renovation period, the property reopened on December 19, 2018, under the InterContinental Dhaka name.

• 2014

  Property closes for redevelopment[1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The hotel closed on September 1, 2014, in connection with its renovation and transition back to the InterContinental brand.

• 2013

  InterContinental returns as manager after renovation plans[1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  InterContinental Hotels was announced as the future manager of the state-owned property following a major renovation.

• 2011

  Sheraton announces departure from the state-owned hotel[1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Sheraton announced that it would end its management contract with the Bangladeshi government. The property later operated as the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel.

• 1983

  InterContinental Hotels ends management of the property[1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  InterContinental Hotels ceased managing the hotel, which subsequently became the Sheraton Dhaka Hotel.

• 1971

  Hotel designated a neutral zone during the Bangladesh Liberation War[1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The International Red Cross designated the hotel a neutral zone during the conflict, although the property was later attacked during Operation Hotel Intercontinental.

• 1966

  Inter-Continental Dacca opens as the first international five-star hotel in the territory[1]InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The hotel opened in central Dacca, then the capital of East Pakistan, establishing a major international luxury-hotel presence in the city.

1. 1InterContinental Dhakaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2InterContinental Dhaka official hotel pageihg.com