Ensuring fair prices for rawhide is a solemn duty, and the inability to fulfil this responsibility is depriving the poor and underprivileged people of their rights.
The shifting of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar - with the aim of protecting the environment - have not been realised, as leather processing still continues at Postgola.
This year, the authorities banned the entry of sacrificial animal rawhide into the capital from outside Dhaka, but this directive was not obeyed, said Director General of the Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection AHM Shafiquzzaman at an event on Saturday.
He was addressing a Shadow Parliament Debate Competition as the chief guest, organised by Debate for Democracy in the city’s FDC.
Shafiquzzaman added, “Although no syndicate was found controlling the rawhide prices, any possible interference should be investigated. The fair price of rawhides cannot be ensured as the supply exceeds demand in the country, and there is no adequate preservation system.
“Although the domestic market of Bangladesh has an annual demand of 2 million rawhides, the supply is 20 million. During Eid-ul-Azha, there are 4 lakh surplus rawhides in Dhaka, which cannot be processed on time.”
Presiding over the event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran said, “The steady fall in rawhide prices since 2019 has not yet been reversed. There are allegations that the tanners and hoarders are in a syndicate, forcing marginal traders to sell rawhide at extremely cheap prices.
“Whether there is any syndicate controlling the leather market needs to be investigated through intelligence agencies. The fair price sale of sacrificial animal rawhide is the right of the poor and marginalised.”
He added, “If any syndicate is found involved in the violation of this right, they should be identified and brought to book. The matter needs to be discussed in the Parliament. I seek Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention in this matter if necessary.
“In order to market the leather of Bangladesh in the international market, maximum importance should be given to obtaining the LWG certificate.”
Kiran then pointed out, “It is also very important to ensure environmental protection and social compliance. If modern processing is ensured at the district level instead of centralising leather processing in Dhaka, the people will reap the benefits.
“Then it will be possible to ensure the fair price of rawhide.”
Debaters from American International University Bangladesh won the Shadow Parliament debate competition on “Fair Price for Rawhide,” defeating Prime University.
Trophies, crests and certificates were awarded to the winning team at the end of the competition.
