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 in Bangladesh, the world’s fourth most populous Muslim nation.

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.

“This is the highest profit since the company’s establishment,” Hasan told AFP. “We expect further growth in the coming year.”

Bangladesh has faced turbulent times.

A mass uprising in

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