E-Malt.com News article: Bangladesh: Bangladesh's only local beer survives in shadows of alcohol restrictions

In a country where alcohol remains heavily restricted, a locally brewed beer has endured for years despite past opposition from Islamist groups and limits on advertising, the Mainichi reported on June 22.

Known as Hunter Beer, the government-approved lager is produced in Bangladesh and sold only at a limited number of licensed venues.

The beer has been manufactured since 2009 by Crown Beverage, a private company based in Dhaka. It is distributed to around 200 government-approved locations, including bars and restaurants in high-end hotels.

Company executive Rafiqul Islam declined to disclose sales figures, but said the company continues to ship a substantial number of bottles.

Hunter Beer is aimed primarily at foreign visitors. It is not exported and can only be consumed within Bangladesh at approved establishments.

Despite its limited profile, it operates within Bangladesh's tightly regulated alcohol sector, where production and sales are controlled and consumption is largely restricted on religious grounds.

Oversight falls under the Directorate General of Drug Administration, highlighting its unusual status as a government-approved beer in a country where alcohol is socially sensitive.

When production began, the initiative faced opposition from the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami, which objected to beer being produced domestically.

The resistance did not develop into a wider movement and there have been no significant protests in recent years, but sensitivities remain.

"We can't advertise, and we can't openly market," said Uggal Roy, who oversees sales at Jamuna Group, the parent company of Crown Beverage.

The restrictions mean the beer is promoted largely through word of mouth and the hospitality sector, despite official approval to produce and sell it.

Pricing reflects its limited distribution. According to Roy, the wholesale price is 140 taka ($1.14) for a 330-milliliter can and 150 taka for a bottle. Retail prices are more than double that, with some outlets charging as much as 840 taka per can due to scarcity.

The beer contains 5 percent alcohol. Its malt is imported from Belgium and its hops from the United States.

Like many manufacturers, the company has faced rising costs. Roy said prices of key raw materials have surged in recent years, adding that even aluminum cans have doubled in price.

The beer's limited availability has nonetheless helped sustain demand among foreign visitors, particularly those staying in international hotels where alcohol service is permitted.

A lounge employee at a five-star hotel in Dhaka said foreign guests often appreciate having access to alcohol in a country where options are otherwise limited.

At bars in the capital that serve Hunter Beer, staff describe it as part of a small, competitive market catering mainly to expatriates and travelers.

One bar worker, who said he had not personally tried the drink, summed up its positioning simply: "Our rival is Heineken."


23 June, 2026