The hide prices this year have been set at Tk85-90 per square foot for Dhaka and Tk75-80 for the areas outside the capital.
Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA), Bangladesh Tanners Association and Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association (BHSMA) jointly fixed the prices.
They announced the prices of rawhides of sacrificial animals at a joint press conference in Dhaka on Saturday.
“A square foot of raw hide of cows will be sold at Tk85-90 in Dhaka and Tk75-80 in other areas,” said Shaheen Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Tanners Association.
Besides, the per square feet prices of hides of bullock have been set at Tk50-55, goat at Tk40-45 and buffalo at Tk40-45 for throughout the country, he added.
Abdul Hai, Secretary General of BTA, told the Dhaka tribune that the prices of sacrificial animals’ hides were fixed in conformity with the international market prices.
Currently, a square feet processed leather is sold at US$1.4 in the global market, said Abdul Hai.
He urged the government to strengthen security measures for at least two months after Eid-ul-Azha to prevent smuggling of hides.
BTA leader hoped the rawhide could be procured 6m-7m pieces during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
According to BTA, the country’s growing leather sector presently needs 250m cubic feet raw hides every year to meet the local demand.
According to the Department of Livestock, around 48% of annual rawhide collection is made during Eid-ul- Azha while 10% collection is during Eid-ul-Fitr and 2% in Shab-e-Barat and Kali Puja.