15 border points at ‘risk’ of rawhide smuggling

Security officials have identified 15 points along the border areas with India from where 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 Ministry of Home Affairs where the instruction was given to officials for taking intensified measures to thwart smuggling.
"We've detected smuggling points on the eve of the Eid when tens of thousands of sacrificial animals will be slaughtered," a special superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told the FE.
He said vigilance and intelligence activities will also be strengthened in and around the points to stop smuggling.
"The special security arrangements will be put in place from the Eid day and will continue for the next 15 days," he said.
The places most vulnerable to smuggling are Benapole under Jessore district, Burimari under Lalmonirhat district, Akhaura under Brahmanbaria, Sona Masjid under Chapai Nawabganj district, Hili under Dinajpur district, Tetulia under Panchagarh district, Teknaf under Cox's Bazar district, Comilla, Birol under Dinajpur district, Satkhira, Nalitabari under Sherpur district, Gowinghat under Sylhet district, Damurhuda under Chuadanga district, Feni, Haluaghat under Mymensingh district, and Bhurungamari under Kurigram district, according to officials.
Sheikh Nazmul Alam, Deputy Commissioner of DB of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) north, said rawhide collected from sacrificial animals like cows and goats during Eid-ul-Azha is being smuggled to neighboring through the Indo-Bangla border area due to the inadequate prices in the country.
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.
He said local traders normally show interest to sell their collected rawhide to the Indian traders, who offer much higher prices then the local tanners.
The officials said 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 including Natore sadar, Palashbar under Gaibandha District, Taraganj under Rangpur district, Mataji under Naogaon district, Rajarhat under Jessore district, Iliyataganja under Comilla district, Pakutiya under Tangail district, Haluaghat under Mymensingh district,  Sambhuganja, Kishoreganj Sadar, Gazipur, Tongi and Savar Aminabajara.
Insiders said the Indian traders have paid at least Tk 10 billion to their Bangladeshi counterparts in advance for taking away cattle skin.
Tipu Sultan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association (BHSMA), feared if the government fails to control the traffickers then substantial amount of rawhide will be smuggling to neighboring country.
He said the thickness of local rawhide is better than that of other countries, thus push up the demand.
Shaheen Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) said this year tanners expect to get 10 million pieces of rawhide, up from last year's 9.5 million pieces.
According to insiders, 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.

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