DHAKA: Tanners urged the government to withdraw its decision to allow rawhide exports, on the grounds that it might cause a scarcity for the local industry.

President of Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) Shahin Ahmed placed this demand at a press conference at its office in city’s Dhanmondi area at 11 am on Wednesday (August 14).

At the press conference, the president of BTA said, "We will start collecting leather from August 20. In the meantime, the leather market hopefully will remain stable. We hoped that the government will review its decision during this time.

The government has decided to lift the bar on rawhide export for the first time aims to ensure that domestic industries, general people and seasonal traders get the fair price, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Commerce Abdul Latif Bakshi on Tuesday (August 13) said.

Shahin Ahmed said such decision taken by the government will threaten the leather, leather products, and footwear industry as rawhide export will make the raw material less available in the domestic markets, fear those involved with the trade.

“The modern leather industry in Savar will be completely inaccessible due to the lack of raw leather required. Now if the government allows exports of raw hide, our investment will be compromised. 7,000 crore investment in the leather industry will be at risk” the president of BTA said. 

A vested quarter is purposely reducing the price of rawhides. Responding to a question as to whether the Tanners Association is currently involved in this prevailing situation, Shahin Ahmed said, "We never buy rawhide. Usually wholesalers buy the rawhide and skin of sacrificial animals from seasonal traders and sell these to tanners.

Therefore, the Bangladesh Tanners Association is not involved in this price reduction of rawhides, he added.

BDST: 1343 HRS, AUG 14, 2019
RS