Kathleen Abdullahi, president of the Union of Food Producers in Bangladesh, said the government’s proposed law was “wrong” and a “threat to livelihoods, agriculture and food security”.

“The government needs to be very careful and use appropriate laws like those we have in place with regards to alcohol… instead of a punitive law,” she told Guardian Australia.

“The main idea behind Prohibition was a ban on selling liquor at a time when people were too drunk, and that was not possible,” she said. “We all know that today, people are not very smart but the prohibition really wasn’t working.”

Abdullahi said the government should rethink the proposal, saying “one of the great achievements of the country was, and is, that there (was) no liquor and many people worked very hard to take care of their households and their children.”

The bill has faced criticism from the Bangladesh Christian Association, which said the prohibition had worsened abuse by the military and religious extremists.

“This legislation is harmful in relation to our social harmony and the public welfare and also has the potential to worsen social and security problems (for) minors, vulnerable people and women. They (government) should reconsider it,” said Ejaz Fakir, executive director of the association.

Ruling Awami League, which is led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the new bill would end the trade in alcohol and create more jobs.

“The new law will benefit the society and people are able to obtain the necessary information to make an informed decision,” said Ismail Ali Chowdhury, the Awami League’s leader. He told reporters that the bill should only go through if the government sought the court’s permission to continue with the implementation. “If they are found to be wrong, they should revise the law on that, because all the laws (in the country) have the same effect. It should be used strictly for that.”

The bill has long been on the chopping block. The central government’s 2013 bid to amend the 1971 anti-alcohol bill failed in the house, amid public opposition from brewers and alcohol distributors.

Critics say the bill would create an “unnecessary and draconian” situation and create hurdles for some of the country’s minority groups, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians. It bans sales of alcohol to minors; has no “sales tax or duty” and,