Supply falls by 30pc in Tangail markets
Supply of hides and skin after this year's Eid is at least 30 per cent less than last year in Pakutia in Ghatail, one of the biggest leather markers in the country.
Usually, hides and skin worth over Tk 100 crore were traded at the market during Eid-ul-Azha in previous years. Arrivals this year is lesser. But the turnover in terms of money would rally round the previous year's figure as prices are higher, wholesalers said.
The number decreased this year due to financial strain caused to people by floods and political situation, they said. Many political leaders who used to sacrifice cows in dozens earlier are either absconding or silent, they said.
Many well to do people also restrained their Eid festivities due to various reasons, said Kader Khan, an influential wholesaler.
Prices increased by at least 25 percent this year due to short supply, he said.
"We bought hides at Tk 400 to Tk 600 more apice this year", he said. Another leaseholder Mosharaf Hossain said hides and skin are brought to at Pakutia market from other districts including Sherpur, Jamalpur, Mymensingh and Sirajganj.
Wednesday and Sunday are market days when traders and tanners from Dhaka will come and make bulk purchases from wholesalers, they said.
The supply is lesser also because sacrificial cattle could not be grought from India in large numbers, they said.
Small trader Chinu Bepari said he bought only 300 pieces of hides this year against over 1,000 after last year's Eid.
"a medium size hides was sold at Tk 2000 this year against Tk 15,00 last year”, he said. Trader Sujat Ali said he bought big size hides at Tk 3,500.
Goat skin was bought at Tk 250 to Tk 300 depending on the size.
The wholesalers and traders said high prices of hides and skin this year may affect export of leather and leather goods, a prime forex earning sector, unless the government takes appropriate steps right now.
They suggested import of hides and skin from neighbouring countries to retain Bangladesh's export market in the world. Once lost, others will capture the export market, they said.
Besides, government should promote goat farms to produce Black Bengal Goat skin, famous in the world for its quality, they said.
Pakutia market authorities said they leased the market at Tk 26 lakh but the local administration did not take any security measure. There is no power supply in the market, they said.
Contacted, Ghatail Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Bilkis Jahan Rimi said the market authorities did not inform her about their problems.
She however said security measures would be taken immediately.
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