Prices of rawhides have dropped sharply causing financial losses to the small traders, middle men and wholesalers in Kishoreganj district.
Besides, retail rawhide traders in 13 upazilas of the district are incurring loss as they are counting more money for buying salt due to its ongoing scarcity after the recent Eid-ul-Azha.
Salt is the core item for processing rawhide. Meanwhile, the traders at Bhirab, Bajitpur and Kishoreganj Sadar expressed their frustration over the current salt crisis during the visit there by this correspondent.
They alleged besides the salt crisis, the situation has turned deplorable since the tannery owners have fixed the prices of rawhide this season according to their own consideration leaving aside the cause of the local retail traders. The traders claimed after buying and processing rawhide at more prices they have been compelled to sell the same at fewer prices in the market. The traders here had been purchasing rawhides at Tk. 300 to Tk. 400 per piece depending on quality and size.
Seasonal rawhide trader Sundur Ali of Harua village under Sadar Upazila said, “I purchased 50 pieces of cowhide at an averrage rate of Tk. 400 each. I will not be able to sell those at prices above Tk. 350 due and I have to count a loss this year.”
Wholesaler Abdur Rahman said, “I purchased 500 cowhides from the owner of the sacrificial animals during the last four days.
When I took those to the market I found the traders purchasing the rawhide at Tk. 350 per piece which is lower than my buying prices. I am going to suffer a financial loss this year.”
Wholsaler Aminul Islam of Bhairab Bazar said the leather traders association could not fix the prices of rawhide this year as its prices in international markets had fallen sharply.
“Dishonest traders may smuggle rawhide into our neighbouring India if the government does not take necessary steps immediately,” he also feared.