\n Syrupy aromas drift across the guarded compound of Bangladesh's only licensed distillery, a state-owned producer posting record profits in the Muslim-majority nation, where Islamists are staging a political comeback.\n<\/p>\n
\n That's a surprising success in a country where the vast majority of its 170 million people are barred from buying its products.\n<\/p>\n
\n Alcohol is tightly regulated in Bangladesh, the world's fourth most populous Muslim nation.\n<\/p>\n
\n Carew and Co, established under British rule 87 years ago, produced $10 million in profit in 2024-25, and paid the same again in taxes, said managing director Rabbik Hasan.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"This is the highest profit since the company's establishment,\" Hasan told AFP. \"We expect further growth in the coming year.\"\n<\/p>\n
\n Bangladesh has faced turbulent times.\n<\/p>\n
\n A mass uprising in August 2024 ousted the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina, who had been criticised for extensive human rights abuses and had taken a hard line against Islamist movements during her 15-year rule.\n<\/p>\n
\n Since she fled to India -- defying extradition orders to attend her crimes against humanity trial -- Islamist groups have grown increasingly assertive.\n<\/p>\n
\n Alcohol, forbidden under Islam, has escaped their condemnation, but they have demanded restrictions on cultural activities they consider \"anti-Islamic\" -- including music and theatre festivals, women's football matches, and kite-flying celebrations.\n<\/p>\n
\n An interim government is leading the South Asian nation towards elections expected in February 2026.\n<\/p>\n
\n But at the sprawling Darsana facility near the Indian border, humming machines fill bottles.\n<\/p>\n
\n Carew's popular brands range from the golden-hued \"Imperial Whisky\" to \"Tsarina Vodka\", distilled from sugarcane with flavourings imported from the Netherlands.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"We never encourage anyone to drink -- we only sell to those who already do,\" Hassan added.\n<\/p>\n
\n - 'Zero doubt' -\n<\/p>\n
\n Buying an alcoholic drink in Bangladesh requires a government permit, issued only to those aged over 21, and mainly granted to non-Muslims, who require a medical prescription.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"Alcohol is forbidden,\" said Hasan Maruf, director general of the Department of Narcotics Control, but added that \"exemptions exist for certain communities\".\n<\/p>\n
\n That includes foreigners and workers on the country's tea estates, where Carew's low-cost liquor is popular among the 150,000 mainly Hindu workers.\n<\/p>\n
\n Around 10 percent of Bangladeshi are not Muslims, mainly Hindus.\n<\/p>\n
\n This year, only the company's sugar division suffered losses -- with its mills also producing fertiliser, vinegar, and industrial alcohol.\n<\/p>\n
\n Carew provides the only source of regulated liquor -- alongside a separate brewery producing Hunter, Bangladesh's only beer, owned by the Jamuna Group conglomerate.\n<\/p>\n
\n Those are reliable products in a country where illegal moonshine stills -- or the dangerous adulteration of imported liquor -- has been a persistent problem.\n<\/p>\n
\n Fish trader Prince Mamun, 42, said he has been drinking Carew for two decades.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"It's cheaper and safer than imported brands,\" he said, adding that he holds a permit and drinks about 20 days a month.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"I drink Carew products with zero doubt.\"\n<\/p>\n
\n Shah Alam, a devout Muslim and 38-year employee in the bottling unit, has never tasted the products.\n<\/p>\n
\n Yet he praises the distillery for its contributions to the local community, from education to employment.\n<\/p>\n
\n \"I don't drink anything from here, nor am I involved with the selling,\" Alam, 59, said. \"All I am doing here is my job.\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Syrupy aromas drift across the guarded compound of Bangladesh's only licensed distillery, a state-owned producer posting record profits in the Muslim-majority nation, where Islamists are staging a political comeback. That's a surprising success in a country where the vast majority of its 170 million people are barred from buying its products. Alcohol is tightly regulated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[553],"tags":[],"ji_location":[],"class_list":["post-152133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-feed"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n