The crisis of cattle rawhide has hit the Ramnagar market in Dinajpur as well, and both the regular and the seasonal rawhide traders are fearing huge financial loss.
Supply is around 55-60% less than last year in the second largest rawhide market in North Bengal, according to the regular rawhide traders, who claimed that the low price fixed by the government was the main reason behind the crisis.
The bulk of annual cattle rawhide supply comes during Eid-ul-Azha, the festival of sacrifice when Muslims sacrifice cattle in the name of the Almighty. At this time, seasonal traders collect the rawhides and sell at the market, to the regular traders.
However, this year the problem arose when the government announced the price all of a sudden.
“Many of the seasonal traders collected the rawhides at last year's price, which is much higher than the government rate. That is why most of them have not brought their collection to the market, fearing loss,” said Tajedur Rahman, a local rawhide businessman.
But because of the low supply, regular traders are being forced to buy what is available at a high price. “This has put us at risk of loss as well. If the tannery owners don't increase the price this year, we are sure to incur huge loss,” said Shafiqul Islam, another local trader.
The traders also fear that the rawhides that are not in the market may get smuggled to India for a higher price.
“There are at least 200 regular rawhide traders in Dinajpur. All of them together have been able to buy only 40% of the usual amount of rawhides that is produced in the season of Eid-ul-Azha. But the number of sacrificed animals was as usual. Where did the rest of the rawhides go?” said Sadiqur Rahman, former president of rawhide traders' association in Dinajpur.
“This has happened because of the government rate; many traders and owners are now storing their collection. There is a high possibility that these stored rawhide will be smuggled out of the country – most probably to India,” he told the Dhaka Tribune. “The government needs to make sure that it does not happen.”