Bangladesh army’s advancing business interests

by KAMAL AHMED

Capitalising on its success with the Dhaka Radisson, the [Bangladesh Army Welfare Trust or] AWT is now building another five-star hotel in the port city of Chittagong.

A leading hotelier who did not wish to be identified told the BBC that the use of cheaper military-land amid sky-rocketing land prices in Dhaka has given the army a clear commercial advantage against other players.

In addition to a recently-built fast-food shop aimed at the affluent middle class in Dhaka, the army’s other big business these days is the Trust Bank. Set up under civilian rule, it has now grown into a fully-fledged commercial bank with about 40 branches nationwide.

BBC for more

(Thanks to Robin Khundkar)