Tanners lower hide prices

Tanners will buy cow hide at Tk 70-75 per square foot in Dhaka and Tk 60-65 in the rest of the county this year, lowering the price by more than 16 per cent.
The price of goat hide has been set at Tk 30-35 in Dhaka and for 'Baqra' goats at Tk 25-30, while buffalo hide will be bought at Tk 35-40.
The prices were announced at a press conference Friday by the Bangladesh Finished Leather and Footwear Exporters Association's (BFLFEA) President Abu Taher.
Last year, the price for cow hide was Tk 85-90 in Dhaka and Tk 75-80 elsewhere.
The price of goat hide was Tk 50-55 per square foot and for 'Baqra goat' Tk 40-45.
Tanners had bought buffalo hide at Tk 40-45.
Unlike the last time, when the government had set the prices, this year three trade bodies -- Bangladesh Tanners' Association (BTA), Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchant Association and BFLFEA -- fixed the purchase price.
"We will procure hides at this rate. We request the seasonal businessmen to not buy hides at rates higher than this. Otherwise, they will incur losses," BTA Chairman Shaheen Ahmed told bdnews24.com.
At Friday's press briefing, Shaheen Ahmed, Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchant Association President Ali Hossain and other business leaders were also present.