BSS, Rangpur :
The hide traders as well as seasonal ‘fariahs’ have been making better business of sacrificial animal hides following good quality with higher market price in Rangpur region this year, market sources said.
The seasonal ‘fariahs’ have been earning good profits following huge demand of the excellent quality sacrificial animal hides, mostly of the locally reared cattle-heads, by selling their purchased hides to the bigger traders, ‘arats’ and merchants.
According to market sources, small and medium scale skin traders, there are adequate supply of hides and skins as the people sacrificed more animals following reachable and comparatively lower price this time.
The small-scale seasonal hide and skin traders are not incurring losses this year as they maintained contacts with big buyers at the ‘arats’ about the hide price fixed in Dhaka by the tannery owners, exporters and big merchants following government directions.
The bigger hide, skin traders and merchants also appreciated government efforts to create congenial situation through increasing skin price considering the prevailing huge demand and positive signals from the international markets.
Talking to BSS today, President of Rangpur Skin Traders Association Abdul Latif Khan expressed satisfaction over market situation despite capitals shortage for lack of adequate bank loans when demand of the commodity in global markets has increased now.
“Nearly Taka 16 to 18 crore of more than 200 bigger hide and skin traders and ‘aratdars’ of Rangpur region alone have been lying dues with the tannery owners at Dhaka for years together causing capital shortage to run the business,” he added.
He opined for formulating more time befitting national hide and skin policy as China, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, The Netherlands and other countries are showing keen interests for investing in the prospective sector in Bangladesh, he said.
Like Abdul Latif Khan, General Secretary of Rangpur Skin Traders Association Azgar Ali asked the law enforcing agencies for maintaining the special steps taken to prevent smuggling of animal hides as its price is higher in the neighbouring country.
Hide traders Mozammel Haque, Lokman Hossain, Momenin Khan and Korban Ali said they could not purchase all of the locally supplied hides as crores of Taka is still lying due with merchants and tanneries in Dhaka for many years.
They said the purchased animal hides are now being processed by the big traders before sending to the tanneries and bigger traders in Dhaka from the region.
The big skin traders are purchasing hides of cows from the small and seasonal traders at rates between Taka 1,500 and 2,500 depending on size and few extra large sized hides are being purchased at up to Taka 2,800 this time.
On the other hand, skins of goat are being purchased at rates between Taka 150 and 250 each depending on size and quality this time in the region, they said.
