DHAKA: Starwood Hotel and Resorts, the parent company of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, will stay in Bangladesh till the end (31 March) of the ICC World Cup Cricket in South Asia that would get off to a gal start here in Dhaka next year.

Bangladesh Services Limited (BSL), the owner of Dhaka Sheraton, has also agreed to lease out the hotel for another year.   

Starwood’s 25-year deal with the BSL ended in December 2008.

Under the Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, BSL had requested Sheraton authorities to extend the contract. However, Sheraton replied that they were not interested to continue in Bangladesh.

BSL owns the hotel while Sheraton hotel chain operates it. Later, the contract was extended quite a few times with short spans.  

Now the Sheraton is ready to stay further eyeing a business bonanza during the cricket World Cup.  

When contacted, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Shafiq Alam Mehedi said that the government had consented to their interest in a one-year contract.

"We also need them during the World Cup cricket, " he added.    

Shadus Sadeque, Manager (Communication and Marketing) of Sheraton, however, said they want to stay here for a longer term.

BDST 21:35 HRS. JULY 7, 2010