Fair prices elude rawhide traders in Magura

MAGURA, July 17: Non-payment of outstanding bills by tannery owners, high price of salt and hike in transport cost frustrate the rawhide traders in Magura district.
District livestock office sources said a total of 29,405 cattle were slaughtered in the district during this Eid-ul-Azha. But according to district rawhide traders' association, procured skins in the district are not more than 15000.
Though the government has increased rawhide prices this year, tannery owners are depriving them of government-fixed rates.
Abdul Wahab, a rawhide trader on Chhaya Bithi Road in Magura town, said, "I am yet to get outstanding bill of more than Tk 10 million. Though we procure rawhide in cash, tannery owners keep our bill pending for years."
Another trader Masud Rana of village Katakhali under Sadar upazila said this year they are purchasing salt at Tk 1,050 per bag (60 kg) as against Tk 550 last year.
"We are paying wage of Tk 1,200 to a worker per day as against Tk 700 last year. Moreover, transport cost has increased to Tk 35000 as against Tk 20000 last year."
He added: "Tannery owners are giving us only Tk 40 for per square foot cowhide while our investment is Tk 44. On the other hand, we are getting Tk 10 for per square foot goat-hide while our investment is Tk 12."
Raju Khan, another trader of the Vaina area in Magura town, said they procure rawhide from grassroots level small traders in cash.
"We do not get loan support from the government. On the other hand, tannery owners are provided with loan support though they purchase rawhide from us on credit."
When contacted, Sonali Bank Magura Branch Manager Rashidul Islam said they have not got any instructions to provide loan to local traders. "If we get instructions in future, we will do so", he added.
Magura Chamber of Commerce and Industry director Tanvir Rahman told the FE that rawhide traders are going through a hard time.