Seasonal traders, stockists in blame game over hide prices

Seasonal hide traders in Dhaka have accused the stockists of depriving them of ‘fair prices’ for hide they collected from around the city after slaughtering of cattle during Eid-ul-Azha.
On the other hand, the stockists allege the seasonal traders were charging higher prices after collecting hide at cheaper rates.
The seasonal traders were bringing hide to the city’s Posta area, the largest wholesale rawhide market in Dhaka.
The stockists said the tanners would start collecting the hide after the traders stop the supply after a week.
Seasonal trader ‘Nahid’ told bdnews24.com that he collected 2,000 pieces of hide from Old Dhaka and Keraniganj.
“But the stockists are willing to pay only Tk 2,000 for the hide I had bought at Tk 3,000. I’ll suffer a huge loss, if they stick to that price,” he said.
Many other traders also made similar allegations.
Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association President Hajji Delwar Hossain however said they were buying hide from the seasonal traders at the fixed price.
“We have information that the traders are charging more after collecting the hide at much cheaper rates,” he said.
“Those who allege they are getting less … they must have brought bad quality hide,” he added.
He said the quality of hide, which were brought on the same day after the cattle were slaughtered on the Eid day, was good.
“But those hide pieces, which were brought on Saturday were not that good,” he claimed.
He also said the traders were not applying salt on the hide after collecting, which led to rotting of it.
Trader Mamun Hossain agreed with him.
“I have bought 3,000 hide pieces and getting the fair prices. It is natural that a trader who brings rotten hide will get less,” he said.
The tanners fixed price of hide during Eid at Tk 50-55 per square-foot of cowhide for Dhaka, Tk 40-54 for places outside Dhaka, Tk 20-22 for sheep hide, and Tk 15-17 for goat hide.--bdnews24.com
Ends/AR/Sept 27, 2015