Field admin asked to monitor rawhide trading during Eid

The government has instructed divisional commissioners and district-level deputy commissioners to monitor the overall management of rawhide trades, including the preservation and transportation of the skins of sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Azha, according to sources.
The divisional commissioner is the chief bureaucratic and revenue officer of a division, while deputy commissioners play the top role at the district level.
Both the civil admin officials have been asked to communicate around the clock with a central joint coordination committee and control room opened by the commerce ministry.
The commerce ministry has issued letters to take necessary steps regarding the matter.
It said the officials must monitor the adequate supply of salt and its prices, as well as oversee the buying, selling, preservation and transportation of sacrificial rawhide and skins.
They have also been tasked with resolving any potential unusual issues through coordination with relevant local representatives.
Besides, they have been assigned the responsibility of ensuring the addition of the required salt to rawhides within four to five hours after the slaughtering.
"We've already asked the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners for measures to ensure fair prices of rawhide and have also instructed them to take steps on transportation and preservation of slaughtered sacrificial animals, if necessary," said a senior official.
Meanwhile, a central joint coordination committee, headed by Senior Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, has been formed to oversee the activities.
The committee will monitor and coordinate the preservation and stock of rawhide and address transaction issues during the second-largest religious festival for Muslims.
It will also take necessary steps to facilitate the transportation of such hides across the country. Besides, the ministry has established a divisional committee comprising senior officials to monitor and coordinate the rawhide and cattle skin issues during this period.
It will hold a meeting with traders' associations and stakeholders tomorrow (Sunday) to determine rawhide prices. The meeting will be presided over by the senior commerce secretary.
A high-ranking commerce official said, "We'll take steps to ensure fair prices of rawhide."
During Eid-ul-Azha, more than 50 per cent of the annual rawhide and skin is collected. According to data from the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, the estimated supply of rawhide and skin in the country exceeds 20 million units.
There are more than 12.25 million animals ready for slaughter this year, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

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