Sale of rawhide has reached a stalemate in Sylhet as tanners are yet to purchase 40,000-50,000 pieces of processed rawhide from rawhide merchants.
Merchants are hoping this stalemate will be settled, and tanners will purchase rawhide as soon as possible.
After talking to several rawhide merchants, this correspondent found that Bangladesh Tanners Association owes them crores of takas since 2015. Many merchants are on the brink of collapse, as they have not been able to recoup their investment to date.
Usually 80,000-90,000 pieces of rawhide is collected from the sacrificed animals during Eid-ul-Azha in Sylhet, they remarked, but this has come down to 40,000-50,000 pieces this year.
Shamim Ahmed, president of Shahjalal Rawhide Merchants Association, said over 60 merchants are registered with the organisation, while at least 140 other merchants ply their trade across Sylhet.
"Many did not engage in collecting rawhide this year as their previous dues were still not cleared," he also said, "Those who did collect rawhide, purchased cattle rawhide at the price between Tk150-200 per piece. They could not sell much of their stock to wholesalers, and as a result, they had to abandon the rawhide or dump the majority underground."
Cleaners of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) were later forced to clear up abandoned rawhide as they remained uncollected and were emitting foul stenches, Shamim opined.
Hanifur Rahman, head of waste management at SCC, said at least 40 tons of abandoned rawhide were cleared in two days by his cleaners.
Upon investigation, it was found that the rawhide stalemate has affected seasonal traders, as well as mosques and orphanage operators, the most.
They had purchased rawhide with great hope, but could not recoup even their costs this year, said locals. Rawhide contributes to meet their annual expenditure, which remains uncertain this year.