Hotel Sheraton has been built legally and is compliant with the maximum height limit imposed by all relevant organisations and departments from home and abroad.
However, a vested quarter is conspiring to spread fear among tourists by deliberately raising questions regarding the height of Hotel Sheraton.
All matters relating to civil aviation are overseen by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Taking into consideration the aircraft take-offs and landings in Bangladesh, this body sets how high buildings can be constructed in any area.
According to ICAO, construction of buildings up to a maximum of 500 feet is allowed in the city’s Banani area.
Hotel Sheraton has a much lower height than the maximum limit, but the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and a few media organisations are making an ill-motivated attempt to tarnish the reputation of an international-standard hotel.
Recently, a few private television channels launched an attempt to disrupt the development of the country's tourism industry by spreading baseless news using misinformation.
Despite the fact that Hotel Sheraton was constructed under contract with the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), allegations are being made that the establishment was constructed illegally.
The Borak Real Estate Company Ltd constructed 5-star Hotel Sheraton on city corporation land in Dhaka’s Banani area following all government laws, regulations, and administrative procedures.
Prior approval was taken from all relevant departments and organisations of the government, including the local government ministry and city corporation.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has issued a guideline regarding aircraft take-offs and landings at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which is implemented by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
CAAB is also responsible for looking after all issues relating to aircraft take-offs and landings.
Under ICAO guidelines, as per CAAB's Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS), zero altitude in strip, runway and red zone; 0-150 feet altitude in inner approach area; 150-500 feet altitude in outer approach area; maximum 150 feet in inner horizontal area; maximum 500 feet in outer horizontal area; 0-150 feet on transitional surfaces, and 150-500 feet on conical surface are allowed.
According to the OLS, Hotel Sheraton is located in the conical surface area. The maximum height of this area is set at 500 feet. Despite the fact that the Sheraton Hotel’s height is 302 feet, the authorities believe that a vested quarter is spreading falsehoods.
Which approval from which organisation?
Since the location belongs to the city corporation, the city authority is supposed to take permission from CAAB as per regulations. In this case, Borak Real Estate, the building’s construction company, has no responsibility.
The construction of this building was completed in 2014 under a partnership agreement with the city corporation. This location was then located within the Tejgaon Airport area.
Later, in 2018, CAAB redefined the Air Funnel Zone, defining the maximum limit of how tall buildings can be constructed in different areas.
Vested quarters conspiring against tourism industry
As the Sheraton Hotel is run under the supervision and management of the internationally renowned hotel chain Marriott International, foreigners visiting to make government foreign investments, foreign guests coming for business, trade and tourism, and NRB and domestic investors, contribute to the economic development of the country by staying here.
But the Sheraton Hotel authorities believe that the development of this expanding sector is under threat due to propaganda spread by a vested quarter.
Who loses if Hotel Sheraton isn’t fully operational?
As the hotel is not fully operational as yet, the government is losing about Tk 100 crore in revenue annually. On the other hand, the DNCC is also being deprived of Tk 200 crore annually in revenue income.
In such a situation, Borak Real Estate, the owner of Hotel Sheraton, has faced financial losses amounting to Tk 231,81,87,482 from July 2017 to June 2023.
DNCC-Borak Real Estate agreed to distribute shares
On November 13, 2023, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Borak Real Estate Ltd signed a deal, taking possession of their respective stakes in the DNCC-Unique Complex [Hotel Sheraton] through mutual understanding, in accordance with a High Court order.
There is now no bar on Hotel Sheraton to be fully operational commercially. DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam and Borak Real Estate Managing Director Mohd Noor Ali signed this deal on behalf of their respective organisations at the DNCC office that day.
According to the deal, the DNCC has taken possession of their stake in the property. Meanwhile, Borak Real Estate has also taken possession of their stake, allowing Hotel Sheraton to operate in full swing.
What did the court say?
According to a court order, the DNCC and the Borak Real Estate Ltd resolved their ownership stakes in the Banani DCC-Unique Complex up to 20 stories or 201 feet through the agreement.
On October 9 last year, in the presence of both parties, the court ordered a resolution of this matter. The order further mentions that the CAAB approved up to 201 feet of the building’s height.
In this regard, the High Court issued status quo on the building on the 21st to 28th floors of the building. It then directed both parties to sign a deal sharing the building’s stake, in accordance with the orders previously issued on June 12 and August 29 last year.
The share allocation deal was signed as per court order.
Hotel Sheraton at a glance
The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) vetted the structural design of a 30-storey building, which was then approved by a city corporation authorised officer (chief engineer) as per regulations.
Borak Real Estate then built the 28-storey Sheraton on 60 katha land owned by the DNCC.
Subsequently, the then authorised official – the chief engineer of Dhaka City Corporation – on June 25, 2007, approved the design of the 30-storey building. The building was constructed after vetting of structural design by BUET on February 12, 2007.
In 2007, the city corporation secured clearance for the construction of the 30 floors from a range of pertinent organisations, including the city corporation, DMP, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Titas Gas, Department of Environment, DESCO, and Dhaka WASA.
Tenders were invited on April 10, 2004, for the construction of the building on 60 katha land as per the RFP of the city corporation.
Then on November 27, 2011, the then DNCC chief executive officer sent a letter to the local government secretary stating that the construction of 30 floors – an increase from 15 – had been approved by the then mayor Annisul Huq.
Finally, BUET gave a revised approval in 2022 after the construction of the building was completed, and before it went into formal operation.
