The government has fixed the prices of sacrificial animal hides to be available during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, aiming to protect the interests of farmers, madrasas and the country's leather industry.

The prices were fixed today following directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who is closely monitoring the issue to ensure proper management and utilization of rawhides, said Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir.

Talking to reporters after a meeting at the ministry's conference room in the capital, the minister said salted cowhide prices in Dhaka have been fixed at Tk 62 to Tk 67 per square foot, while prices outside the capital have been set at Tk 57 to Tk 62 per square foot.

The price of salted hides of castrated goats (khasi) has been fixed at Tk 25 to Tk 30 per square foot across the country, while female goat hides (bakri) will be sold at Tk 22 to Tk 25 per square foot, he added.

Muktadir said the announced prices would apply only to properly salted hides.

To prevent damage and wastage of hides during the Eid, he said, the government will distribute salt free of cost through district and upazila administrations and instructed the authorities concerned to ensure timely supply to madrasas and designated preservation points.

He said nearly one crore sacrificial animals are expected to be slaughtered this Eid, making proper preservation crucial for supporting the country's export-oriented leather sector.

As part of the preparations, training programmes on proper slaughtering, skinning and hide preservation are being conducted for butchers, meat traders and madrasa representatives, he said.

The minister asked local administrations to organize awareness activities on the proper use of salt for preservation.

He said the government has launched a nationwide campaign through television, newspapers, electronic media and leaflets to encourage proper handling of sacrificial hides.

In coordination with Islamic Foundation, imams across the country will advise devotees during Friday prayers and pre-Eid sermons on the importance of preserving hides properly, he added.

Muktadir noted that thousands of Qawmi madrasas depend significantly on income generated from sacrificial hides every year.

He said the government is continuing to prioritize strengthening the domestic leather industry through local processing and value addition before export.

Although a contingency plan regarding wet-blue hide exports exists, he said, no such decision has yet been taken and any future move would depend on post-Eid market conditions.

To ensure effective implementation, the minister said, ministry officials and local administrations will monitor hide collection and preservation activities across the country, while Members of Parliament (MPs) have also been requested to supervise the process in their respective constituencies.