DHAKA, – Ahead of the holy Eid ul Azha, the government today fixed the prices of the salt-applied rawhides of cows at Taka 40-45 per square feet in Dhaka and Taka 33-37 per square feet across the country.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi announced the new rates of rawhides of the sacrificial animals at a virtual meeting ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha to be observed on July 21.
The prices of the salt-applied rawhides of cows last year were Taka 35-40 per square feet in Dhaka and Taka 28-32 per square feet across the country.
Meanwhile, the price of salt-applied rawhide of goats (khasi) has been fixed at Taka 15-17 across the country which was Taka 13-15 last year.
The price of rawhide of goats (Bokri) has been fixed at Taka 12-14 per square feet across the country which was Taka 10-12 per square feet last year.
The price of rawhide of per square feet cow has been increased by Taka 5 this year while that of goat by Taka 2.
The Commerce Minister said the old stock of leather, current global supply and demand, local and international market price, export situation and the opinion from all stakeholders have been considered in fixing the prices.
He also urged the businessmen to ensure procuring of rawhides in the country with the government fixed price.
Tipu said the export of rawhides was good last year while all would have to move forward considering all aspects and the pros and cons.
“The main thing is that all should get the just price of rawhides. We’ve given approval of exporting wet blue leather and it’s not a matter of great comfort. We’ve given approval of exporting rawhides since better price is not coming from inside the country. I don’t want this to last long,” he added.
The Commerce Minister said the poor also have their just rights in the rawhides while the orphanages, madrashas also collect rawhides since poor students study there. Side by side, Anjuman Mofidul Islam also collects such rawhides, he added.
“So, it’s our duty that they get just price of rawhides and we’ll have to ensure that. We’ll also have to remain aware so that no rawhide is spoiled and damaged,” he added.
He mentioned that all the necessary preparations have been taken this time to properly preserve, buy and sell rawhides centering the Holy Eid Ul Azha.
Besides, he said there is a stock of sufficient salt in the country urging all to preserve the rawhides with using salt in due time.
Tipu said fixing the price is not the main thing, rather the businessmen would have to ensure that all get the just price of rawhides.
The Commerce Minister informed that the government in advance has arranged Taka 600 crore this time for the businessmen for procuring rawhides while the central bank has also allowed those businessmen involved in rawhide procurement to reschedule their default loans by giving 3 percent amount.
Apart from this, he said that the field administration has been directed to assist the concerned businesses hoping that there would be no problem this time in collection, preserving, buying and selling of rawhides of sacrificial animals.
The Commerce Minister said the export of rawhides has increased in recent times and it would further increase as the government has already announced to allow export of 1.20 crore square feet wet blue leather.
“Permission will be given for exporting more wet blue leather. The new leather industrial estate in Savar has started its operations in full swing in Savar,” he added.
The minister informed that the government has taken necessary steps to aware the country’s people in properly collecting and preserving rawhides through necessary campaign, publicity and distribution of leaflets.
The businessmen in the meeting urged the government to keep the rawhides-laden vehicles out of the purview of the strict lockdown to be enforced in the country after the Eid-ul-Azha to rein in the infection rate of COVID-19.
Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain, Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary Dr Nurul Islam, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor AFM Naser, Bangladesh Tanners Association President Shahin Ahmed, Leather and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association President M Saiful Islam, Bangladesh Finished Leather and Exporters Association President Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin, Hide and Skin Association President Aftab Khan, Additional Secretary to Financial Institutions Division Abdullah Harun Pasha and Local Government Division Additional Secretary Dipok Chakrabarty spoke, among others, at the meeting.
