Unfair rawhide prices trample the rights of the poor

Ensuring fair prices for raw hides is a solemn duty, and failure to discharge this responsibility deprives poor and disadvantaged people of their rights.

The transfer of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar – in order to protect the environment – has not been carried out, as leather processing is still continuing in Postgola.

This year, authorities banned the entry of raw hides of sacrificial animals into the capital from outside Dhaka, but the directive was not being followed, National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate Director General AHM Shafiquzzaman said at an event on Saturday.

He was addressing a Shadow Parliament debating competition as chief guest, organised by Debate for Democracy at the city’s FDC.

Shafiquzzaman added, “Although no syndicate has been found controlling rawhide prices, any possible interference needs to be investigated. The fair price of rawhide cannot be ensured as the supply exceeds the demand in the country and there is no proper conservation system.

“Although the domestic market of Bangladesh has an annual demand of 2 million raw hides, the supply is 20 million. During Eid-ul-Azha, there are 4 lakh surplus raw hides in Dhaka, which cannot be processed on time. »

Chairing the event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran said, “The steady decline in rawhide prices since 2019 is yet to be reversed. There are allegations that tanners and hoarders form a syndicate, forcing marginal traders to sell the rawhide at extremely low prices.

“The existence of a syndicate controlling the leather market must be investigated by intelligence agencies. Selling the rawhide of sacrificial animals at a fair price is the right of the poor and marginalized.

He added: “If a union is found to be involved in the violation of this right, it must be identified and brought to justice. The issue must be discussed in Parliament. I seek the intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this matter if necessary.

“In order to market Bangladeshi leather in the international market, obtaining the LWG certificate should be given utmost importance.”

Kiran further emphasized: “It is also very important to ensure environmental protection and compliance with social standards. If modern processing is carried out at the district level instead of centralizing leather processing in Dhaka, the people will reap the benefits.

“It will then be possible to guarantee the fair price of rawhide.”

American International University Bangladesh debaters have won the Shadow Parliament debate competition on ‘Fair Price for Rawhide’, beating Prime University.

Trophies, badges and certificates were presented to the winning team at the end of the competition.