Act against those behind rawhide price slump: JP

Jatiya Party yesterday urged the government to take action against those who have resorted to foul play to push down prices of rawhide during Eid-ul-Azha.

“What unscrupulous businessmen have done with rawhide is an ill-motivated act. They’ve created such a situation to give the sellers a throwaway price,” said party secretary general Moshiur Rahman Ranga while talking to reporters after a meeting of JP presidium members and lawmakers at party chairman’s Banani office.

He also called upon the government to provide victims of Mirpur slum fire with proper compensation and rehabilitate them.

Replying to a question, Ranga said their party will select its candidate for Rangpur-3 constituency by-election as per the party charter. Rangpur-3 constituency fell vacant following the death of Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad on July 14.

He said as HM Ershad’s chehlum coincides with Hindu  community’s Janmashtami on August 23, they will hold a discussion, doa mahfil and a food distribution programme on August 31.

RAWHIDE EXPORT SHOULD CONTINUE TO ENSURE FAIR PRICES: GM QUADER

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Friday said rawhide export should continue to protect the interests of the poor and orphans.

 “Those who want to do leather business must do it in a competitive way. So, export should continue. The government can give incentive to the tanners in another way instead of harming the interest of the poor and the orphans,” he said.

 Quader made the remarks while exchanging views with leaders of the party’s Dhaka north and south units at the chairman’s Banani office.

He said people were forced to sell skins of the sacrificial animals at throwaway prices during Eid due to the ban on rawhide export and fewer buyers. “So, there should have been adequate buyers and export facilities to ensure fair prices.”

As rawhide prices dropped sharply, the government on Tuesday night decided to permit their export to ensure fair prices.