Hide traders asked to fix price within 48 hours

The government has ordered the traders to fix the price of raw hide within the next 48 hours.

On Monday, a week before the Eid-ul-Azha, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told reporters at his ministry that he issued the order so that both sellers and buyers make profits.

Asked what will be the price, he said, “It should be realistic so that the people get a fair price while the traders in the leather industry do not count loss.”

Bangladesh Tanners Association President Shaheen Ahmed told bdnews24.com the price of raw hide was Tk 50 to 55 per square feet last year in Dhaka, and Tk 45 to 50 outside the capital.

Retailers complain that they count losses during the Eid-ul-Azha every year.
 
“The government won’t allow any syndicate,” Tofail said.
 
Tanners’ leader Shaheen said the global price of hide has ‘plummeted’ and said this should be factored in while fixing the price.
 
Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin, a hide trader, said there was a ‘crisis’ of raw hide now.
 
“This industry has never been in such a dire state. Around 35 percent of last year’s hides are still in the storehouses,” he said.  
 
The government has compelled the tanners in Hazaribagh to relocate their factories to the Leather Industrial City in Savar in order to save Dhaka from pollution.
 
Mahin wants the government now to allow raw hides into Hazaribagh during the Eid this year.

He feared the seasonal traders would not apply enough salt to preserve the hides this year due to its high price.
 
According to him, the hide of a medium-size cow needs 5-6 kilograms of salt while the hide of a big cow needs 8-10 kg. The amount is for 3-4 kg for goat hide and 10-15 kg for buffalo.
 
The traders suggested applying salt on the hides within 5-6 hours into slaughtering cattle.
 
Minister Tofail said the government has decided to import 150,000 tonnes of salt to keep the price low. “Letters of credit for the import will be opened on Tuesday,” he said.
  
He also assured the traders of incentives. “Finished and crust leather exporters of Savar will get 5 percent cash incentive, which has been agreed. The Finance Division will shortly issue a circular.”
 
Tofail said the traders were ready to supply around 3.3 million cows and buffalos, which he said was enough to meet the demand this year.
 
“We won’t have to bring cows from another country,” he said.