Hi-Level Committee for Eid Rawhide Management

The government will form a high-level committee for proper management of rawhides of sacrificial animals during the Eid-ul-Azha.

The decision came today at the first meeting of the ‘Taskforce for Formulating Work Plan and Providing Recommendations to Develop Tannery Industry’ at the industries ministry.

The committee will include members from business, commerce, environment and forest ministries, religious affairs and records, the National Revenue Board (NBR), the Finance Ministry, the Tariff Commission, the Bangladesh Bank, and the leather industries.

After formation, the committee will submit its recommendations within seven days following consultations with the stakeholders.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun presided over the meeting while Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin and State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder were present.

The task force also decided that if the leather merchants and tannery owners would not buy rawhides from the local traders within the stipulated time, the government will make necessary arrangements for preserving the rawhides at different warehouses of districts, Upazilas, and unions for the next three months.

The government is searching alternative markets for the leather industry to protect the industry from coronavirus impacts, Industries Minister Humayun told the meeting.

He said the country’s tannery industry will have to achieve the Leather Working Group (LWG) certification for exporting the products to European markets.

“Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) has been established at the Savar Tannery Industrial Park. Owners of the tannery factories will have to be more active for achieving the certification,” he added.

Tipu Munshi said the government is working relentlessly for protecting the interest of domestic industries. “Everybody will have to keep attention for maintaining the standard of rawhides and protect the interest of root level rawhide merchants,” he added.

Shahab Uddin urged all authorities concerned to work together for solving the rawhide related problems during the Eid-ul-Azha. Kamal Mojumder said the Industries Ministry will provide all necessary assistance, including loans, for exporting their products in the European markets.

Among others, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem, Industries Secretary Md Abdul Halim, additional secretaries of the Industries Ministry Begum Parag and Mofizul Hoq and Additional Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Md Shakhawat Hossain were present at the meeting.

Source: BSS