Shah Alam Nur :
Law enforcement agencies have identified 15 points along the borders through which rawhide of sacrificial animals could be smuggled out after the Eid-ul-Azha.
The issue of possible smuggling of rawhide was also discussed in a recent meeting of the law enforcement agencies at the police headquarters. Instruction was given to officials in that meeting for taking intensified measures to thwart smuggling.
“We have detected smuggling points and taking measures to prevent it. On the occasion of the Eid, thousands of sacrificial animals would be slaughtered,” a police official, said.
He said, vigilance and intelligence activities will also be strengthened to stop smuggling.
“The special security arrangements will be effective from the Eid day and will continue for the next 15 days,” he said.
He said the law enforcement officials are going to set up check posts at each of the entry points like Savar, Kanchpur Bridge, Manikganj and Sultana Kamal Bridge to check the rawhide trafficking.
The places most vulnerable to smuggling are Benapole in Jessore district, Burimari in Lalmonirhat district, Akhaura in Brahmanbaria, Sona Masjid in Chapai Nawabganj district, Hili in Dinajpur district, Tetulia in Panchagarh district, Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar district, Comilla, Birol in Dinajpur district, Satkhira, Nalitabari in Sherpur district, Gowainghat in Sylhet district, Damurhuda in Chuadanga district, Feni, Haluaghat in Mymensingh district, and Bhurungamari in Kurigram district, according to officials.
Rawhide of sacrificial animals like cows and goats during Eid-ul-Azha is smuggled out to neighbouring country through the Indo-Bangla borders.
The local traders normally show interest to sell collected rawhide to the Indian traders, who pay lucrative price.
Rawhide worth millions of taka is smuggled out to India each year during and after the religious festival.
The intelligence agency has a list of 12 rawhide wholesale markets. These are Natore Sadar, Palashbari in Gaibandha District, Taraganj in Rangpur district, Mataji in Naogaon district, Rajarhat in Jessore district, Iliyotganj in Comilla district, Pakutiya in Tangail district, Haluaghat in Mymensingh district, Sambhuganj, Kishoreganj Sadar, Gazipur, Tongi and Savar Amin Bazar.
Source said the Indian traders have paid at least Tk 20 billion to their Bangladeshi counterparts in advance.
Tipu Sultan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association (BHSMA) said that substantial amount of rawhide will be smuggled to neighbouring country.
He said the thickness of local rawhide is better than that of other countries.
Shaheen Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) said, this year tanners expect to get 11 million pieces of rawhide, up from last year’s 10 million pieces.
Source said the Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association, Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association and Bangladesh Tanners Association will fix the price of skin of the sacrificial cows before Eid-ul-Azha.
