Speakers at a progamme on Saturday underscored the need for ensuring compliance in the leather industry to expand it in the international market for boosting the country’s economy.
They made the comment at a view exchange meeting with the journalists of Bangladesh Labour Rights Journalists Forum (BLRJF) on implementing the government-approved work plan to ensure social compliance in the leather industry organised by Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) in Dhaka.
While speaking at the event, BLF Chairman Abdus Salam Khan said, “Once the leather sector was an established industry in the country but the sector has been ruined due to lack of proper plan.”
“There are a large number of local raw materials for the leather industry but we can not utilise them properly due to the lack of proper plans. Now, the government has taken action plans to flourish the sector,” he said.
“Tanneries were shifted to Hemayetpur from Hazaribagh to save the environment, ensure compliance, and develop the sector but the result is almost zero.”
Meanwhile, BLF Secretary General AZM Kamrul Anam said that the industry’s image should be improved in both local and international markets.
“Bangladesh cannot export leather and its goods to Europe for not getting the Leather Working Group (LWG) certificate. Company owners should ensure compliance to boost their business,” he added.
Anam also highlighted that Bangladesh can be listed as one of the top 10 leather exporters by 2025 if the country gets the LWG certificate.
BLRJF President Kazi Abdul Hannan underscored the need for political goodwill to flourish in the leather sector as it has a huge potential compared to the garments industry.
BIDA data shows that the country's leather market is worth $2 billion and it accounts 3 per cent share of the global leather and products market.
