The wholesale merchants have agreed to start selling the rawhides of sacrificial animals to the tanners a day after the merchants decided on Saturday (Aug 17) that they would not sell the hides until their previous dues of Tk 4 billion are paid.

This was revealed at a press briefing after a tripartite meeting of tanners, merchants and other stakeholders of the leather industry was held at the Commerce Ministry at the Secretariat on Sunday (Aug 18).

Industry Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun and the Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Prime Minister Salman F Rahman , higher officials  of commerce, industries and finance ministries and representatives from Bangladesh Bank, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) and Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association (BHSMA)  joined the meeting.

“Sale of hides opens now and we will sell it [to tanners],” said President of BHSMA Delwar Hossain adding they would sit on Thursday [Aug 22] to decide on the previous dues.

Tannery owners, who willfully avoid paying loans and arrears, will face action while the government will help some tanners get the banks loans so that they can buy hides this year, it was told at the briefing.

Speaking to the media, minister Humayun said t there is no problem in tannery industry and it is a potential sector and has already moved far ahead.

“A vested quarter is out to impede the development of the industry,” he said.

“Tannery owners have already begun procuring rawhides of sacrificial animals. FBCCI and leaders of the concerned associations will meet on Aug 22 for solving the rest of problems,” BSS quoted the mister as saying.

Responding to a question, the minister said, the government has not taken any decision yet regarding the export of rawhide, but the decision will be taken in this regard, if necessary.

Salman F Rahman said some rawhides have been damaged in some districts, including Chattogram and Sylhet, due to weather.

“During Eid-ul-Azha, nearly 10 million rawhides are produced across the country every year. Out of the such number of rawhides, about 5,000 rawhides are normally being damaged every year. This year, around 10,000 rawhides have been damaged due to weather,” he added.