Interest in tannery preservation is likely to boost next year: Commerce Adviser

Interest in preserving sacrificial animal skins is expected to increase next year, said Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, following the profitable outcomes witnessed this Eid-ul-Azha by those who preserved hides.

Speaking at the third meeting of the Committee to Ensure Proper Management of Sacrifice-Related Matters, held at the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday (August 6), Sheikh Bashiruddin noted that individuals and institutions who took steps to preserve skins this year secured significantly better prices. He added that if the government extends the same level of support next year, greater public participation can be expected in skin preservation efforts.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Commerce Adviser, was also attended by Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar and Industry Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan.

According to data presented at the meeting, a substantial volume of raw hides was collected across the country during Eid-ul-Azha. A total of 91,36,734 animals were sacrificed nationwide, out of which 60,45,220 hides were preserved by local tanners, madrasas, orphanages, and Lillah boarding houses.

Of the preserved hides, 17,61,051 came from madrasas, orphanages, and Lillah boarding institutions. Regionally, Chattogram Division led with 15,48,000 hides preserved, followed by Dhaka (14,09,000) and Rajshahi (13,90,000).

The meeting also highlighted several challenges that impacted the management of sacrificial animal markets and preservation this year. These included:

Ineffective management and proliferation of unauthorized animal markets.

Poor recovery tracking of sold animals.

Lack of fair pricing mechanisms at the grassroots level.

Absence of dedicated spaces for area-based animal sacrifice.

Insufficient awareness among stakeholders on hiding preservation techniques.

Inadequate waste management during Eid.

Limited capacity and compliance issues in existing tanneries.

Absence of a national policy on sacrificial hide collection and preservation.

Lack of permanent infrastructure for storing raw hides in key districts like Dhaka and Chattogram.

To address these issues, the committee proposed a series of measures for the next Eid-ul-Azha:

a) Formulation of a Market Management Policy – The Local Government Division may be tasked with drafting a policy for better regulation of sacrificial animal markets.

b) Waste Management SOP – A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should be developed for managing sacrificial waste, to be followed by all city corporations, municipalities, and local bodies.

c) Institutional Capacity Building – Efforts are needed to strengthen institutions in the areas of skin collection, preservation, transportation, and overall management.

d) Disease Control Measures – The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock should take steps to prevent and manage diseases such as lumpy skin disease in cattle.

e) Database and Training – A national database of permanent and seasonal leather traders and butchers should be created, with district-wise breakdowns, along with tailored training programs.

f) Infrastructure for Leather Processing – Central Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) must be upgraded to handle the increased volume of leather during Qurbani.

g) Dedicated Leather Preservation Zones – Suitable locations near Dhaka should be allocated for hiding preservation, with the necessary infrastructure established.

The committee emphasized that timely implementation of these recommendations could greatly enhance both the economic and environmental outcomes of Eid-ul-Azha in the coming years.