Best Holdings PLC, the listed operator of Le Méridien Dhaka, is spearheading a set of mega projects in Bhaluka, Mymensingh—now one of Bangladesh’s fastest-growing industrial belts.
Anchoring these investments are Marriott Bhaluka, the country’s first five-star hotel in an industrial zone, the international boarding school Haileybury Bhaluka, and a luxury resort under Marriott’s exclusive Luxury Collection.
The projects are designed to serve more than 2,500 factories in the region, spanning ready-made garments, textiles, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, agro-processing, and mobile assembly, according to a company statement.
Haileybury Bhaluka launches classes
Haileybury Bhaluka, Bangladesh’s first international boarding school of its kind, began academic sessions in August 2024. Operated by Best Holdings’ subsidiary IconX Limited, the school currently offers Grades 6 to 9 in a fully residential setup, with expansion plans to Grade 12.
All students in the inaugural batch were awarded scholarships covering between 25 and 75 percent of tuition. The school has pledged that every admitted student will receive at least 25 percent financial aid in future years.
Haileybury’s 160-year-old legacy from the UK includes sending over 60 percent of its graduates to world-leading universities such as Harvard, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge and the London School of Economics. The Bhaluka campus also emphasises leadership and personal development, introducing an MIT Summer School Programme, hosting Bangladesh’s first Harvard Summer School information session, and engaging students in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Marriott Bhaluka set for mid-2026 opening
Best Holdings, through its subsidiary IconX Hotels Ltd, is on course to open Marriott Bhaluka by June 2026. Situated in Maona Hobirbari, about 60 km north of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the hotel aims to connect Bangladesh’s industrial hubs with world-class hospitality.
“This hotel will not only serve international and domestic guests but also accelerate business growth in emerging industrial zones,” said Md Abul Kalam Azad, Company Secretary of Best Holdings PLC.
Spread across 4.47 acres, the property will feature 228 rooms with high-speed internet, smart workstations, executive lounges, restaurants, spa and fitness facilities, along with large meeting halls and recreation areas. It is expected to host trade expos, business conferences and industry-focused meetings for local and foreign delegates.
The hotel will generate more than 500 direct jobs in hospitality, food and beverage, administration and maintenance, and indirectly support logistics, catering and transport services.
Luxury Collection resort under development
Parallel to the hotel, Best Holdings is constructing a 53-acre international resort under Marriott’s Luxury Collection. The resort will house 140 rooms, an executive lounge, banquet hall, business centre, spa, fitness centre, kids’ club, golf practice range, tennis and volleyball courts, and a mini theatre.
It will also feature 14 studio villas, four presidential villas, two luxury bungalows, a clubhouse, signature restaurants and a range of high-end amenities. The resort is projected to employ about 450 people once operational.
Strategic investment in Bhaluka
Explaining the motivation, Azad said, “Business is no longer Dhaka-centric. Investors are shifting to industrial hubs like Bhaluka, and we must be prepared with modern infrastructure. This decision is both strategic and symbolic—it positions Bhaluka as a vital industrial centre.”
Best Holdings signed its agreement with Marriott International in 2021. Construction of Marriott Bhaluka is now 80 percent complete, with interior works underway. The company is also developing a shopping mall, commercial complex, cineplex and food court adjacent to the hotel.
Together, these ventures are expected to elevate Bhaluka’s socio-economic standing, attract foreign investment, and reinforce Bangladesh’s hospitality and education sectors.