With an estimated 13 million cattle ready for sacrifice nationwide during the Eid-ul-Azha, the government is ramping up efforts ahead of the religious festival to ensure the smooth management of animal hides and skins.
The Ministry of Commerce issued official orders on Thursday on the formation of five committees: a central joint coordination committee, divisional committees, a monitoring team, district monitoring teams and a control cell.
Headed by the commerce secretary, the central joint coordination committee will oversee the collection, preservation, transaction, transport and any overall issues related to hides and skins.
Divisional committees will monitor issues within their jurisdiction, including the required amount of salt, collection, preservation, transaction, transport and any overall issues related to hides.
Led by Deputy Secretary of commerce ministry Md Sayed Ali, the monitoring committee will act as a communication hub, liaising with tanners across the country, including those in two Dhaka city corporations, Posta, Savar and Natore.
District monitoring committees will be responsible for monitoring local issues and overseeing transactions of hides and skins within their districts.
Following a recent meeting with stakeholders chaired by the immediate past Senior Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, the ministry decided to form the committees, said sources.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is also taking steps to facilitate the transport of hides across the country and to increase monitoring along the border points to prevent any smuggling attempts.
Sources say the ministry has asked police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and intelligence services to remain cautious and ensure no obstacles hinder the transportation of hides.
A directive has been issued to halt the transportation of sacrificial hides seven days after Eid and increase monitoring at key points including border areas.
State agencies are also preparing to make the required quantities of salt used for preserving hides available at cheaper prices. They are additionally focusing on waste management and easing transportation hassles.
The country produced a record 2.3 million tonnes of salt this year, the highest in 62 years.
The commerce ministry has also requested the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the Savar tannery estate for three months following Eid-ul-Azha.
During this period, tanners usually collect most of their input for the year ahead.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has already trained 3,000 slaughterers nationwide. They plan to further expand these training programmes so that the quality of hides and skins remain intact after animal slaughtering.
A senior official, who attended the commerce ministry meeting, said the ministry has already instructed various agencies to take necessary actions based on the meeting's decisions.
Besides, the ministry is expected to hold a virtual meeting with divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners.
The government remains committed to supporting the development of the country's leather industry, the official added.
The commerce ministry has also asked relevant agencies to monitor salt prices and ensure they do not exceed the set limits.
Over half of the country's rawhide and skins are collected during Eid-ul-Azha. According to the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), the national supply of hides and skins is over 20 million units.
In preparation for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, an estimated 12.98 million animals are ready for sacrifice across the country -- a 3 per cent increase in supply compared to last year.
More than 3,000 makeshift cattle markets will be set up nationwide before the Eid.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman said the maximum anticipated demand for sacrificial animals this year is 10.7 million. This means there is a surplus of 2.27 million cattle compared to the expected demand.
This includes 5.27 million cows, 0.161 million buffaloes, 6.85 million goats, 0.77 million sheep and 1,850 animals of other species.
The prices of salt-applied hides from sacrificial cows have already been set. The price is Tk 55-60 per square foot (sq ft) in Dhaka and Tk 50-55 per sq ft outside the capital.
Compared to last year, this represents an increase of Tk 5.0 and Tk 7.0 per sq ft, respectively.
Goat hide prices have been set at Tk 20-25 per sq ft, while baqri skin prices are Tk 18-20 per sq ft.
These rates were recently fixed by the commerce ministry and representatives from the local leather sector.
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