CHITTAGONG: The seasonal cowhide purchasers are purchasing the sacrificial cowhide more than double of the government fixed price putting the main hide traders in embarrassing situation.
Generally the wholesalers after purchasing skins sell those to the tanners using salt. But this time the influential youths of the port city have come to the stage as the seasonal purchasers. They are purchasing the skins at the prices whimsically and they are sending those to the wholesalers.
These seasonal purchasers having no experiences of skin trade are enhancing the prices of raw hide of cows and goats. This practice which started few years back also has been going on this year.
One Rubel, a local youth has purchased 70 pieces of cow hide at the rate of big size Taka 2200.00 and medium size at Taka 1500.00 to Taka 1600.00 per piece which actually cost him above Taka 70 per square foot whereas the government has fixed the rate at Taka 40 to Taka 45 outside Dhaka. Again the government has fixed the price for salty skin so the seasonal purchasers have purchased raw hide at a double price.
When Rubel was asked that why he has purchased the hide at such an exorbitant high price, he relied that they are not selling to me at the government fixed price as a result I had to purchase it at such a high price otherwise another purchaser will take it. Then I will not be able to purchase not a single skin.
In every Eid ul Azha the hide markets mainly found at Chwmuhuni, Dewanhat, Karnaphuli and its adjacent areas. On Friday noon(Sept. 25) hundreds of youths were found with the raw hides of different sizes on the footpath.
Some wholesalers are purchasing leaving the places. One Ajgar Ali who has purchased 16 hides at a high price told banglanews that he has purchased at higher rate of government fixed rate and if he fails to sell here he will take those to his house and preserve after processing with salt. Ajgar Ali told that I don’t know how I will dispose those high rate hides.
Md. Shahabuddin now owner of 60 hides sitting under Dewanhat by-pass claimed that the number of sacrificing are less than previous years causing enhancing of hide price. Shahabuddin purchased small and medium sized hides at the price range of Taka 800.00 to Taka 1600.00. He further informed that this year big size did not come from India and Nepal.
One Abul Kalam, seasonal purchaser also claimed in Shahabuddin’s language.
One young boy Saiful at Karnaphuli area has purchased seven pieces of goat skin costing per square foot more than Taka 30 whereas the salted skin of goat skin per square foot has been fixed by the government Taka 20 to Taka 22.
Seasonal purchaser Rubel told banglanews that the wholesaler will purchase from us at square foot measurement and they will give us Taka 1500.00 to Taka 1600.00 per piece.
Md. Abdul Jalil, a wholesale trader of Kazir Dewri area told banglanews that we will purchase the raw hides at an average price that will help us in making some profits.
According to source of the wholesalers, they will start purchase of raw hides at Atura Depot fro Friday afternoon and would continue for two days. Then those will be dried in the sun with necessary processing with salt.
Though the target of collection of five and half lakhs skins have been fixed for Chittagong , but the tanneries will not fill up the targets.
There were a total 22 tanneries in Chittagong of which only two are running now. In May of current year Medina Tannery and Reef leather were closed by the Environment Directorate as those two had no Effluent Treatment Plants.
BDST: 2025 HRS, SEP 25, 2015
Edited by Shahjahan/SMS
