<P> The first distillery was setup in what is today Bangladesh in 1887 by an Englishman named Robert Russell Carew . The company was called Carew & Co (Bangladesh) Ltd and it was nationalised by the government of Bangladesh in 1973 . The distillery is part of the Darsana Sugar Mill owned by the state owned enterprise Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation . It is the only sugar out of 15 state - owned mills that make a profit due to the distillery . The distillery produces rum, brandy, gin and whisky . </P> <P> In 2003 the government of Bangladesh gave Jamuna Distillery Limited of Jamuna Group the licence to produce alcoholic beverages . Jamuna Distillery Limited was the first private company to be given licence to produce alcohol which ended the monopoly of the state owned Carew & Co (Bangladesh) Ltd . Alcohol is sold in 5 star hotels and government licensed bars . In 2009 Jamuna launched Hunter branded beer in Bangladesh . </P> <P> Under Bangladeshi law, any beverage containing more than 0.5% alcohol is considered an alcoholic beverage . A government permit is necessary for selling, storing and the transport of alcohol . To drink alcohol in Bangladesh, one must have a legal permit . Muslims will need a medical prescription to obtain an alcohol permit . The prescription must be given by an associate professor of the medical college or a civil surgeon . </P>

Is it illegal to drink alcohol in bangladesh