No possibility of sacrificial hides being smuggled this year: Commerce Minister

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has said there is no possibility of sacrificial animal hides being smuggled out of the country this year, as the government has strengthened monitoring and preservation measures during Eid-ul-Azha.

He made the remarks while visiting rawhide collection and trading activities in the Aminbazar area of Savar on Thursday afternoon (May 28).

Speaking to journalists after the inspection, he said the government expects a higher volume of sacrificial hides to be properly preserved and delivered to tanneries compared to previous years.

“Most of the hides will be preserved this year and reach the tanneries safely. Compared to any previous year, more hides will be properly conserved,” the minister said. “We are also planning to turn this into a permanent infrastructure system in the future.”

He emphasised that Bangladesh aims to maximise foreign currency earnings and employment opportunities through value-added leather products instead of exporting semi-processed hides.

“We do not want to depend on exporting wet blue leather alone. Greater value is added when leather is transformed into products like shoes, belts and other goods before export,” he said.

The minister further stated that the government is working to ensure that all sacrificial hides across the country can be preserved properly in the coming years.

He also stressed the importance of resolving operational problems at the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Savar’s leather industrial zone to prevent damage to raw hides.

According to the minister, government personnel are working round-the-clock at major rawhide collection points, leaving little scope for illegal smuggling activities.

“Those who properly salt and preserve the hides before selling will receive fair prices,” he added.

During the visit, the minister also spoke directly with traders and buyers regarding market conditions and rawhide pricing. Meanwhile, raw hides began arriving at factories inside the BSCIC Leather Industrial City from Thursday afternoon as Eid processing activities gained momentum.