The government is likely to serve a legal notice today to 28 tanners that stopped construction of their new infrastructures as part of relocation of their factories from Hazaribagh to Leather Industrial Park in Savar on the outskirts of the capital.
“As per the Industry Minister Amir Hossain Amu’s instruction, preparation to send legal notices to those 28 tannery owners is underway,” Abdul Quayum, project director of Savar Leather Industrial Park, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
On Sunday, Amu issued a directive to shut the polluting factories if they fail to relocate to the industrial park in Savar within 72 hours. He also warned that plots allotted to the factories will be cancelled and legal action taken.
The December 31 of 2015 was the deadline set by the government to relocate the tanneries.
The leather industrial park Project Director, Abdul Quayum, said the tannery owners have to relocate their factories as soon as possible.
If they fail to do so, their allocated plots will be handed over to those factory owners that applied for relocation, he added.
“The minister’s ultimatum came following the progress report placed by our engineer, and today (Tuesday) I visited the spot and found that some factories stopped construction,” according to Quayum.
“I have heard about the legal notice to be served to 28 tanners, but did not get it, and even I do not know about the directive,” Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) General Secretary Md Shakawat Ullah told the Dhaka Tribune.
“We have sought low-cost fund as the owners are facing cash crunch, but the government did not pay heed to the demand and such immediate action may create indiscipline and procrastination for relocation, said Shakawat.
The executive committee of BTA will sit on Thursday to discuss the issues and measures to be taken based on the present situation, Shakawat said.
Some factories are very close to finishing their work and will be able to go into operation within the next two-three months, but the construction of Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is yet to finish, he added.
The Ministry of Industries decided to relocate the tannery factories from their current location in the capital’s Hazaribagh area amid pressure from the rights group, environmental activists and buyers because of its hazardous effects on public health and environment.
It allocated plots to 155 tannery owners through Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industry Corporation (BSCIC) at the Leather Industrial Park, established on a 200-acre land in Savar.
