Commerce, Industry and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said that the main goal of the government is to make the country’s leather industry a stronger and export-oriented sector by ensuring the maximum use of sacrificial leather. To achieve this goal, an integrated and long-term plan for the overall development, conservation, processing and export capacity of the leather sector will be presented to the nation by next July.
He said these things while talking to reporters after inspecting the buying and selling activities of Qorbani’s raw hide at Lalbagh post office in the capital on Friday afternoon.
Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said, the government is hopeful that most of the skins of this year’s Qurbani will be collected in a usable condition as a result of the government’s coordinated initiative, active participation of traders-artdars and conservation activities based on mosques and madrasas.
The minister said, ‘Yesterday (Thursday) I visited Aminbazar and today Hemayetpur area of Posta and Savar. I saw that a large quantity of leather has arrived in the hands of the traders and the process of salting is going on there. All the skins of the sacrifice do not come to Dhaka at once, naturally it takes two to three months to complete the whole process. However, this time with the combined efforts of various government institutions, district administration, city corporation, BSIC and related businessmen, we believe that we will be able to reach our goal.
Emphasizing on following the correct procedure for leather preservation, the minister said that the current temperature is relatively bearable and the situation is good. However, if the temperature is 38 to 40 degrees, there is a risk of skin damage within a few hours. If properly cleaned and salted within four to six hours of sacrifice, the skin can be preserved for three to four months.
Khandaker Abdul Muktadir also said that after buying leather, traders use it in the next industrial process. Rawhide is made into wet blue, then crust leather and then finished leather. Various products including shoes, sandals, belts are produced with that leather. Therefore, if the salt is not applied in time, the skin has no practical value.
In response to a question about leather smuggling, the commerce minister said, ‘Every year complaints of leather smuggling are heard. We do not want even a skin of the country to be smuggled. The concerned authorities have been instructed to strictly monitor this matter.
Referring to Savar Leather Industrial City and Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), the minister said that many tanneries could not fully start operations even after shifting from Hazaribagh to Savar. CETP has some limitations. If these can be resolved and attract more investment, it will be possible to bring all the leather industries of the country under industrialization.
The Commerce Minister said that currently the planned capacity of CETP is 25,000 cubic meters per day but in reality it is limited to 14,000 to 18,000 cubic meters. Necessary reform and development activities will be undertaken to increase this capacity.
The Minister also emphasized on modernization of animal slaughtering and skinning process to improve the quality of leather. He said, ‘The work of removing the skin from the animal’s body has to be done efficiently. If skinning is not done properly, the quality of the leather is lost. We are planning to modernize and mechanize the entire process.’
The minister said that currently the market and export of leather products in the country is Tk 12 to 15 thousand crores. Apart from this, there is a huge market for leather products within the country. The government has already provided free salt to madrasas and various collection centers through the Bisik and district administrations, so that the sacrificial hides can be properly preserved and industrially usable later.
Secretary of the Ministry of Industry Md. Obaidul Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce (Routine Duties). Abdur Rahim Khan, Director General of BCIC. Saiful Islam and leaders of Bangladesh Tanners Association were present with the minister.
