Interview: Dream Square Resort aiming for five stars and beyond

Business Report :
Advocate Nuruzzaman Khokon, a lawyer by profession but a hospitality entrepreneur by passion, has set his sights on propelling Bangladesh’s tourism sector to new heights.
In an interview with The New Nation, this multi-faceted businessman spoke about his vision for the Dream Square Resort and his aspirations for the future. Driven by a desire to contribute to the nation’s economic development through tourism, Advocate Khokon embarked on the creation of Dream Square Resort in Mauna, Gazipur.
A strong believer in the potential of tourism and hospitality to become Bangladesh’s next economic driver, Advocate Khokon envisioned Dream Square Resort as a testament to his imagination and his deep love for nature.
Situated away from the hustle and bustle of Dhaka, the resort’s core theme is simple: “Get lost with the beauty of nature.” Dream Square Resort offers guests a perfect escape from the cacophony of city life-a place to breathe deeply and reconnect with nature’s embrace.
Spanning over 100 acres of land, the resort boasts 100 tastefully decorated rooms and offers guests a captivating blend of design aesthetics with four-star standard amenities. Established in 2013, Dream Square Resort stands as a testament to Advocate Khokon’s vision and a beacon of possibility for Bangladesh’s tourism industry.
While classified as a four-star establishment, Dream Square Resort consistently delivers a five-star experience to its guests, with personalised attention evident at every touchpoint. The resort has submitted an application to be officially recognised as a five-star property, reflecting its commitment to excellence.
According to Advocate Khokon, the resort’s reputation for exceptional service continues to grow nationwide. Dream Square Resort employs a team of highly skilled and experienced chefs and staff, recruited from renowned hotels, to ensure guest satisfaction.
A unique feature of the resort is its dedication to fresh, organic produce. Dream Square Resort boasts its own farm, providing guests with delicious and healthy meals featuring organic vegetables, meats, and milk. World-class security systems further enhance the guest experience.
The resort’s commitment to innovation extends to its rooms, which are constantly updated with the latest designs and hospitality features, ensuring guests have access to the most modern amenities.
Looking towards the future, Advocate Khokon is a firm believer in the immense potential of Bangladesh’s tourism and hospitality industries. He highlights the country’s natural assets, including Cox’s Bazar, the world’s longest natural sea beach, alongside scenic landscapes in Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, the Sundarbans, and countless other areas boasting verdant forests and rivers. These, he emphasises, represent a treasure trove of opportunities for tourism growth and economic gain.
He acknowledges the government’s ongoing efforts to develop the sector, including infrastructure improvements in tourism hotspots. Dream Square Resort stands as a testament to this potential, offering a glimpse into a thriving future for Bangladeshi tourism.
While Dream Square Resort thrives, Advocate Khokon acknowledges hurdles within the tourism sector. He cites a 15 percent VAT and a 30 percent tax on profits as significant obstacles to growth. “These VAT and tax structures hinder the sector’s potential to develop the economy and create employment opportunities,” he argues.
Another challenge lies in loan interest rates. While banks extend loans to tourism entrepreneurs, Advocate Khokon emphasises the need for the government to address high interest rates.
On a positive note, Dream Square Resort boasts a robust backup power system with a 24-hour generator that kicks in within five seconds of a power outage.
Security remains a top priority. The resort benefits from government initiatives, with tourist police patrolling the area around the clock. Additionally, Dream Square Resort offers 24-hour CCTV camera surveillance and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the premises, ensuring a safe and secure environment for guests.
Beyond its luxurious accommodations, Dream Square Resort caters to a variety of guest preferences. The resort features a swimming pool, a gym, a steam bath, a sauna, billiards, table tennis, expansive green fields for football, cricket, volleyball, badminton, and even a lone tennis court.
He continues that there are more facilities like a digital movie theatre, laundry, a salon, a green echopark, fishing, a campfire, seasonal fruits,
As complementary items: breakfast, free car parking, cable TV, news papers, telephones for free local calls, a hair dryer, welcome drinks, mineral water, tea, coffee, etc. He said that the guests could enjoy their trip here with the utmost relaxation.
On stating about room facilities, Nuruzzaman said, The Dream Square Resort has a chartered room, a deluxe room, a deluxe room with a twin bed, a deluxe room with a triple bed, a superior room, a premium room, an executive room, a junior suite room, etc..
Advocate Nuruzzaman said the guests are served with the resort’s own produced vegetables, its own lakes, fish, bull meat, milk, dates, juice, and such other amazing things. Its restaurants used to provide continental foods, Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisine regularly.
He said guests fall in love with the resort once they enter it. At least 15 foreign guests used to stay at the resort on average.
Besides, a number of local tourists are staying at the resort regularly.