Govt paying close attention to ensure fair price of rawhide: Livestock adviser

The interim government is paying close attention to ensure fair price for rawhides following this year's Eid-ul-Adha, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said today (26 May). 

Speaking at a seminar at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the capital, she said the chief adviser had given instructions on the matter and the trade adviser had accordingly fixed the price.

"This time, the government has announced free distribution of salt to preserve raw leather. The price of rawhide has been fixed. If necessary, rawhide will be preserved and exported abroad," she added.

At the seminar organised by the Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum, Samanta Sharmin, senior joint convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), alleged that the price of rawhide had intentionally been kept low to destroy madrasas – where most of the hides are donated and then sold. 

Speaking as a special guest, BNP National Executive Committee member and Director of Lal Teer Livestock Development (BD) Limited Tabith Awal, said close attention needed to be paid to the supply chain of livestock.

"We all know what damage has been done to this sector in the past. Now we need to think about what needs to be done to take this sector forward. Bangladesh can become known as a meat exporting country. In addition, attention should also be paid to milk production."

Others including Chairman of First Security Islami Bank Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Managing Director of Krishibid Group Dr Ali Afzal and Director General of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) Dr Shakila Faruk were present at the event. 

The government has fixed the prices of salt-treated raw cowhide at Tk60-65 per sq ft in Dhaka and Tk55-60 per sq ft outside the capital for the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha -- increasing the rate by Tk 5 compared to last year.
The price of goat (Khashi) hides has been set at Tk22-27 per sq ft across the country, while that of she-goat (Bakri) hides was fixed at Tk20-22 per sq ft.
The rates were announced by Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin yesterday.