Rawhide prices hiked

The government has fixed the price of salt-applied rawhide of cows at Tk47-52 per square foot in Dhaka and Tk40-44 across the country ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha.

Price of rawhide of cows has been increased by Tk7 and goat hide by Tk3 per square foot compared to the prices of the previous year.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi disclosed the prices at a press briefing after a meeting with the tanners on Tuesday.

Last year, the price of rawhide of sacrificial cow was Tk40-Tk45 per square foot in Dhaka and Tk33-Tk 37 outside the capital.

However, price of goat hide has been fixed at Tk18-Tk 20 per square foot while the price of hide of She-goat at Tk12-Tk 14 per square foot across the country including Dhaka.

The price of goat hide last year was set at Tk15-17 per square foot while it was Tk12-14 per square foot of female goat hide across the country.

Tipu Munshi said the old stock of leather, current global supply and demand, local and international market price, export situation, increase in exchange rate and opinions from all stakeholders had been considered while fixing the prices.

He urged the businessmen to ensure procurement of rawhides in the country with the government fixed price.

The Commerce Minister said the poor have their just rights to rawhides while orphanages and madrasas also collect rawhides since poor students study there. Anjuman Mofidul Islam also collects such rawhides.

“So, it’s our duty that they get the just price of rawhides and we’ll have to ensure that. We’ll also have to remain aware so that no rawhide is spoiled and damaged,” he said.

The minister mentioned that all the necessary preparations had been taken this time to properly preserve, buy and sell rawhides centring the holy Eid-ul-Azha.

Besides, there is a stock of sufficient salt in the country, he said, urging all to preserve the rawhides by using salt in due time. The minister urged buyers to buy necessary salt while paying hasil (service tax paid by buyers) in the cattle market.

Apart from this, he said, the field administration had been directed to assist the businesses concerned hoping that there would be no problem this time in collecting, preserving, buying and selling of rawhides of sacrificial animals.

Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division Md Akhter Hossain, Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana, information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain, Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather goods and Footwear Exporters’ Association (BFLLFEA) President Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin and Bangladesh Tanners Association President Shahin Ahmed spoke, among others, at the meeting.

At the event, the Commerce Secretary said salt should be given at the stage of collection of sacrificial skins. On behalf of the Commerce Ministry he requested all those who sacrifice animals to pay the cost of the salt.

Shahin Ahmed, President of the Tanners Association, has accepted the price fixed by the Commerce Minister. He said rawhides would be bought at the announced price.

About one crore skins come to the market every year from sacrificial and other animals. During the Eid-ul-Azha which makes up nearly half of the hides and skins of animals slaughtered annually in Bangladesh.

Rawhides provide the key raw materials for US$ 1.24 billion export-earning leather and leather goods industry.