BSS, Dhaka :
Amid opposition from the tanners, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has directed them to fix the price of raw hides of sacrificial animals by Friday.
“We (Government) don’t want to set price of raw hides, rather you (Tanners) should fix the price so the people can get reasonable price and you can make good business,” he added.
The minister Tuesday gave the directives at a meeting with the representatives of the country’s leather industry at his ministry office.
Tofail said: “The price would be announced in a press conference on Friday.”
He also informed the government has taken necessary steps to prevent the smuggling of raw hides from the country.
“The police and BGB, through the home ministry, have been instructed to carry out strict vigilance across the borders, even after the Eid, to check smuggling of raw hides,” he added.
Mentioning that the money coming from the sale of raw hides is distributed to orphanages and the poor, the minister said: “So, it should be kept in mind that people get reasonable price of raw hides.”
Tofail also directed the tanners to disseminate the price of hides to field-level buyers through SMS after fixing it on Friday.
Citing different logics against fixing of the price of raw hides, Shahin Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Tannery Association, said they had decided to buy raw hides based on the international price.
“Earlier, there was stimulating package in the business of raw hides; the businessmen have faced losses after withdrawal of the package. . .We are scared . . . if the price would fall in future,” he added.
Shahin also assured that they would ensure the reasonable price of raw hides for the people of country.
Senior Secretary of Commerce Ministry Hedayetullah Al Mamun, Tariff Commission Chairman and acting secretary M Azizur Rahman, additional secretary (Import) Dr M Ruhul Ameen Sarker, additional secretary (DG, WTO) Amitab Chakrabartee, additional secretary (FTA) Manoj Kumar Roy, director general of department of National Consumer Rights M Abul Hossain Miah, EPB vice-chairman Shuvashih Basu, Bangladesh Tannery Association Chairman Shahin Ahmed and general secretary M Mosharraf Hossain, Bangladesh Hide and Skin Marchent Association Chairman Ali Hossain, Bangladesh Finished Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters’ Association Vice President Majibur Rahman and general secretary M Zoynal Abedin, among others, were present at the meeting.
