DHAKA: After many speculations, the tannery owners and the government agreed to relocate the tannery industry from city’s Hazaribagh to Savar from March.

Earlier on January 30, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) launched test run of Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP).

However, as no tanneries started their production there yet, the CETP has to keep active with the river water, forcing the government to compensate with crores of money.

Earlier on January 10, industries minister Amir Hossain Amu gave a 72-hour ultimatum, saying ‘the tanneries that fail to relocate in the given time will lose their plots’.

But none of the plot was canceled though no tannery has been shifted in the stipulated time.

But the ultimatum from the minister awakened the tannery owners to speed up the relocation of the factories to Savar in March.

Mohiuddin Mahmud Mahin, chairman of Bangladesh finished leather, leather goods and footwear exporters association (BFLLFEA), informed banglanews that at least 25 tanneries will start production in Savar from March.

‘That will be a gift of Independence Day,’ he added.

‘We hope that the minister is to inaugurate the production in the shifted-tanneries at the last week of March.’

The association leader further asserted that White Blue, the machine that will remove the main wastes, will be relocated to Savar within 10 to 15 days. After starting the machine, so far 70% of the pollution will be reduced.

Shahin Ahmed, chairman of the tannery owners, Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA), however, informed banglanews, their tanneries are not ready to relocate before June.

‘We have received the legal notice and we have responded to that. We were given time till March but we might need one or two months more.’

BDST: 1625 HRS, FEB 28, 2016
AIK/RS/RR