Just like last year – citing falling global prices of leather as excuse once again – tanners have cut down the prices at which they are going to purchase sacrificial animals’ rawhide during this Eid-ul-Azha.
They have fixed the purchasing price of per square foot of salted cowhide at Tk50-55 in Dhaka and Tk40-45 outside Dhaka. The price of goatskin was set at Tk20-22/sq-ft, bakri goats at Tk15-17 and buffalo skin Tk35-40.
Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA), Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) and Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association (BHSMA) jointly announced the prices in a press conference at a city hotel yesterday.
Last year, they bought per square foot of salted cowhide for Tk70-75 in Dhaka and Tk60-65 outside and goatskin for Tk30-35.
BTA President Shaheen Ahmed claimed that the price of leather has been falling in the international market and therefore they have reduced the rates.
Moreover, he said that the demand for Bangladeshi leather has also been falling.
It was said in the press conference that the tanners still have in stock 40% of the rawhide collected during last year’s Eid-ul-Azha.
BTA data shows that more than six million cows and 3.5 million goats were slaughtered during Eid last year.
According to the Department of Livestock Services, 48% of the annual demand for leather in the country is met during the Eid-ul-Azha while 10% is collected during Eid-ul-Fitr and Shab-e-Barat. Around 2% of rawhide is collected during Kali Puja and the rest are collected from various sources round the year.
Minister warns smugglers
During a visit to several cattle markets in the city, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government has taken all-out measures to stop smuggling of hides of sacrificial animals.
He said if anyone tries to smuggle hide, they would be booked and punished. The traders will have to buy the raw hide at fixed rate.
On September 7, Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque told reporters that no trucks or vehicles carrying hides will be allowed to leave Dhaka city during and until a few days after Eid to prevent smuggling. However, vehicles carrying hides will be allowed to enter the city, he said.
Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) Public Relations Officer Mohsin Reza said the authorities have taken measures marking some smuggling-prone areas.
Meanwhile, leather traders said regular businessmen might not be interested in getting into the trade this year because of low prices and this might open gates for smuggling.