Dhaka being a concrete jungle, does not really have much of a natural retreat or staycation options. That is especially true for newlyweds looking to get away from all the noise and traffic of the city and spend some quality time with each other. Though such options might be scarce in the city centre, if one opts for just an hour's drive away from the city, there are beautiful honeymoon resorts and hotels set in nature. Here are our top 10 picks among them.  Top Resorts and Hotels in and around Dhaka for Staycation This list includes the existing hotels in Dhaka and resorts within an hour or two drive away. For a great experience, this list will consider 3-star and above hotels with at least 4-star and above aggregate ratings from Tripadvisor and Booking.com.  Dhali’s Amber Nivaas  Dhali’s Amber Nivaas recently became quite popular due to its location, modern design, and amenities. The resort is situated in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj, a one-hour drive from Dhaka.  The resort is completely family-friendly, with beautiful gardens and terraces, a long swimming pool on the perimeter of the cottages, and beautifully designed modern structures.  Currently, the resort still has two offers: the day long package and the full board package. The day-long package will cover entry, lunch, and swimming pool access for 2500 BDT per person. The full board package is specially designed for couples looking to stay the night. It comes with a deluxe room, lunch, dinner, and breakfast, along with all the other standard amenities, for 12,999 BDT per couple.  Read more: Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations in Europe CCULB Resort  CCULB Resort is situated in Kaliganj near Purbachal, around 40 minutes drive from the city on weekends. This pristine staycation resort is established on a vast expanse of land complete with gardens, artificial lakes, cottage homes, deluxe boarding rooms, outdoor restaurant, and recreational centres.  The resort currently has a package for honeymooners looking to stay the night called 'Soul Mate'. Within this package, the couples will get a super deluxe room, access to all the amenities and complimentary services, special dinner and lunch, and breakfast buffet all for 9500 BDT per couple. Vacationers can also opt to take a 10-minute ride around Purbachal on a Helicopter for 5,500 BDT per person.  RASS Resort  Looking for something with a more budget-friendly option? Then RASS Resort can be a good option. Located in Sreepur, Gazipur, this luxurious yet budget-friendly resort is nestled in nature with all the modern amenities.  From beautifully constructed cottages to charming decor and a swimming pool, RASS resort has everything to escape the crowded megacity and get lost in a natural environment. They currently have an ongoing offer that would cost around 10,000 BDT for an arch cottage and 11,000 BDT for a premium bungalow stay overnight with complementary foods and services. There is another staycation opportunity at 5000 BDT per couple, with just breakfast included in the service. But this offer will last till July 10, 2023, so better hurry up.   Read more: Romantic Beach Honeymoon Destinations in Asia Subarna Bhumi Resort  A great staycation option in Gazaria Munshiganj is the Subarna Bhumi Resort. The resort comprises a vast area near the adjoining river. The long riverbank is complete with a stretch of Kaashful too. 

Banani is often termed the quintessential urban metropolis within Dhaka - the capital city of Bangladesh. Over the last three decades, Banani has slowly transformed itself into one of the prime social hubs beyond the concrete-scape. In recent years, a good number of restaurants and cafes have boomed in Banani offering spaces and ambience for meeting and hanging out. Among these establishments, several instagrammable rooftop restaurants in Banani have made a niche for themselves.  Thanks to open décor and beautiful skyline views. With that said, here’s our pick of the best rooftop restaurants in Banani for taking selfies, groupes besides enjoying delicious food. 8 instagrammable rooftop restaurants in Banani Rozak Rooftop Restaurant Rozak Rooftop Restaurant is one of those places that will bring the nostalgic vibe of the late 90s and early 2000s. From its interior to the fusion menu, everything has been well curated to provide a relaxed and cosy environment under the clouds or the stars as you prefer. Read Best Instagrammable Rooftop Restaurants at Gulshan in Dhaka The restaurant is situated on the strip of offices and restaurants on Banani Road 11. Visitors will get to enjoy the open expanse of Banani Model Town or the skyline filled with skyscrapers. The menu ranges from a choice of Bengali cuisine along with steaks, seafood, different salads, and of course, pasta. Expect to shell out around 2000 to 2500 BDT per person for a two-course meal. ChileKotha ChileKotha which literally translates to the attic is another chain of rooftop restaurants across Dhaka. One of their main branches is situated in Banani F block, Road 4, House 16. The restaurant tried to replicate the homely surrounding of the attic, a place that is close to the heart and full of memories. Read Instagrammable Rooftop Restaurants in Uttara Their choice of menu is between authentic Bengali cuisines and Bangla Chinese. There’s also a selection of Kebab items which are one of the must-try items here. Expect to spend around 1000 to 1500 BDT per person for a filling single-course meal with drinks. Picasso Restaurant Picasso is situated right at the junction of Gulshan and Banani near the Gulshan Link Road. The restaurant situated on the rooftop offers a scintillating view of the Gulshan Lake and Banani skyline. The restaurant features an array of the continental dish with signature items from the head chef, Saifur Rahman. However, the must-try items in this restaurant are the selected dessert items available fresh every day. Read Best Rooftop Restaurants in Dhanmondi with Instagrammable Views The restaurant presents its items as food arts. Hence the name Picasso. While food is meant to fill the cravings of hunger, this place will definitely fill your heart as well. A two-course meal per person will cost between 1500 to 2500 BDT. Tribe Rooftop Lounge Even though it's pretty common to see “Lounge” in the name of most cafes in Dhaka, hardly any one of them provides an authentic lounge experience. And that’s where Tribe Rooftop Lounge Comes in. Situated on the top of Platinum Grand Hotel Gulshan, Tribe offers one of the best lounge experiences with its assortment of drinks and entrée menus. From salads to gourmet steak, surf and turf, and fillets, the choice of delicacies is also robust here. Read Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Cafes in Dhaka City for Family Dine Outs Expect to spend around 2000 to 2500 BDT per person for a comfortable laid-back experience. Cielo Rooftop Banani Cielo Rooftop was one of the first chain rooftop restaurants in Dhaka. The restaurant had its first outlet in Paribagh and from there on ventured into the greater Banani area. The main highlight of Cielo Rooftop is its cosy outdoors in a high skyscraper. The Banani branch of Cielo Rooftop is situated on the 18th floor which provides a view of the adjoining area. You can hardly find such exclusive views in other restaurants of the city. Their assortment of food includes continental and fast food with an extensive choice of drinks and desserts. We definitely suggest that you check out their dessert menu and coffee range. Read Top 10 Buffet Restaurants in Dhaka City Expect to spend around 700 to 1000 BDT per person for a single-course meal. La Marisco La Marisco is another rooftop restaurant situated in Banani F block overlooking the Banani Model Town. The restaurant features a wide-open space in its rooftop area which makes it look like an open terrace. The interior has been generously designed with faux grass to exude a natural feel. Diners will get to experience an authentic Chinese menu here as the restaurant specialises in Chinese delicacies. Expect to spend around 1000 to 1500 BDT per person for a two-course meal. Read Seafood restaurants in Dhaka to remind you the taste of ocean Jatra Biroti We already featured Jatra Biroti in our list of Best Instagrammable Rooftop Restaurants in Gulshan. Jatra Biroti sits right between Gulshan and Banani main road making it a claimant of both parts of Dhaka. This vegetarian restaurant is a boutique experience made to relish the authentic rural cuisines of Bangladesh. There are sitting arrangements in both indoor and outdoor rooftop areas. The place itself is designed to exude a rural feel with the thatched roof and bamboo sitting area. The cooks here are all women coming from different marginalised backgrounds of society. Jatra Biroti with its ambiance and food aims to take you to the wandering villages of Bangladesh, where you’ll feel a sense of connection with the root. Not to mention the nostalgic homely taste of their cuisines. Read Best Bangladesh Beach Resorts to Spend Your Vacation Couple any item with their seasonal fresh juices and you’re looking to spend around 1000 to 1200 BDT per person. Tree House Ending the list with another great rooftop restaurant in greater Banani. Tree House is situated in a recused part of Banani giving it a more cosy and laid-back ambiance.  The internal décor of the restaurant is made in a more contemporary style which perfectly blends with the overarching theme of the restaurant. Diners will have access to an array of continental and fusion cuisines. But the best items have to be their different set menu platters ranging from oriental to Chinese themes. There’s BBQ and steak as well for those looking for a more gourmet experience. Expect to spend around 1500 to 2000 BDT for a single-course meal. Read Elegant Resorts near Dhaka to Celebrate Christmas Vacation with Family and Friends Final Words Banani is located not far from Dhaka's diplomatic districts, which also include upscale neighbourhoods, top-notch medical facilities, foreign schools, and clubs. As a result, high-end companies and luxury brands frequently concentrate on opening offices in Banani to serve tourists, famous people, and public figures. Here, developers have built special commercial areas that let other businesses distinguish themselves from the competition. Complying with this trend, the instagrammable rooftop restaurants of Banani are increasingly becoming popular for their amiable ambiance and feel-good experience. While it's one thing to enjoy a meal from the comfort of indoor restaurants, it’s a completely different experience altogether when it comes to rooftops. There’s something special about dining under the open sky and feeling connected to nature. And in a concrete jungle like Dhaka, rooftop restaurants are definitely a breath of fresh air. Read Project Hilsa: Largest restaurant in Bangladesh with elegant interior, pricey food

Shopping malls, shops, kitchen markets and business establishments under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will be closed by 8 pm while restaurants and hotels by 10 pm, with a view to save power. This order will be enforced from September 1 and it will remain in force until further notice, said a public notice  of DSCC. The kitchens of the restaurants will be closed by 10 pm but they can supply food till 11 pm, it said. Besides, movie halls and recreational establishments will be shut by 11 pm and pharmacies will be allowed to remain open till 12 pm and the pharmacies at hospitals  till 2 am, according to the notice. On June 17, the government directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to close shopping malls and kitchen markets by 8 pm to save energy. Also read: Shopping malls, kitchen markets to close after 8pm A letter, signed by Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui, director-general of the Prime Minister's Office (Administration), said that the Premier has instructed to take necessary steps to ensure that shops, shopping malls, kitchen markets, etc. are not kept open after 8 pm.    

The government is going to rent hotels for providing treatment to Covid patients with mild complications as hospitals are under an unprecedented crisis with huge patients, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday. “Already 90 percent of the seats in hospitals have been packed. And 95% ICU beds are also occupied. We’re preparing a field hospital at Bangabandhu Medical University where we can immediately arrange 500-600 beds,” he said. The minister said, “Everyone infected with corona needs not to be hospitalised. So, we’re thinking of renting hotels for dealing with the patients who’ve mild complications. We’ll have doctors, nurses, medicines, and some oxygen in those hotels.” He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat with Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque in the chair.  Read: Bangladesh’s Covid nightmare: 235 more die, 15,776 infected Maleque said they have started looking for hotels as they will no longer be able to accommodate the growing number of patients in hospitals. “If we can give treatment to the Covid patients with mild infections at hotels, they’ll be able to go back home after recovery from there, and it will help reduce the pressure on the hospitals. So, we’ve taken this step.”

The coronavirus pandemic has forced restaurants and other eateries to remain closed for prolonged periods across the world, as has been the case in Bangladesh as well. Alongside airlines and retail, restaurants and hotels are among the most severely impacted industries globally.