Seasonal rawhide traders have accused wholesalers of setting arbitrary prices and forcing them to sell the rawhide at extremely low prices in Rangpur on the ocassion of Eid-ul-Azha. There are also allegations that the wholesaler syndicate is monopolizing the entire leather market in Rangpur.
Seasonal traders and city residents claim that there is no activity from the district administration, law enforcement, or even the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection regarding the sale of animal rawhides. As a result, the syndicate is forcing people to sell rawhides at an average price of Tk300 to Tk400 each, rather than the government-set price per square foot.
On Monday afternoon, during a visit to the Shapla Chattar area of Rangpur city, it was observed that seasonal traders were bringing hundreds of rawhides by trucks, rickshaws, and vans from various parts of the city. They complained that although the government-set price per rawhide is between Tk800 to Tk900, the wholesalers are adamant about not paying more than Tk400 to Tk500.
Abdur Rahman, a seasonal trader who brought 150 rawhides from Hajirhat in Rangpur city, mentioned that the price for medium-sized cow rawhides should be between Tk700 to Tk800 per square foot and for large cow rawhides between Tk1000 to Tk1200.
He bought the rawhides at an average price of Tk600 each, including transport and other expenses, costing him Tk650 per rawhide. However, the wholesalers are unwilling to pay more than Tk500, resulting in significant financial losses for him.
Solaiman Ali, another seasonal leather trader from the CO Bazaar area, reported a similar situation, stating he also brought rawhides at an average price of Tk600 each to the market.
Additionally, seasonal leather traders like Rafiq from the Station area and Sajjadul Islam from the Darshana area of Rangpur city reported that they purchased rawhides at Tk500 each but the wholesalers are not offering a fair price.
"The wholesalers are supposed to buy rawhides per square foot, but they are instead setting prices at Tk300 to Tk400 for medium-sized rawhides and Tk500 to Tk550 for large rawhides, ignoring the government’s directives. They are monopolizing the market and holding people hostage," one of the seasonal traders said.
Despite promises of administrative oversight for fair pricing, no action is being observed, according to the traders.
Rezaul Islam Milon, president of the Rangpur Metropolitan Chamber, has accused some syndicate traders of monopolizing prices and holding general sellers hostage.
He demanded immediate action, questioning whether the situation has become lawless since the traders are not adhering to the government’s set prices.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nazrul Islam, an official from the Rangpur Divisional Livestock Department, said that over 200,000 cows were sacrificed in Rangpur city and the entire district this year, with nearly a hundred thousand goats being sacrificed. He indirectly acknowledged the chaos in rawhide market in Rangpur.