In Ulipur upazila of Kurigram, rawhides were not sold at the price set by the government. Due to this, the seasonal traders did not get the desired price. As a result, they are facing heavy losses.
Meanwhile, due to the low price of leather, it goes without saying that small time traders did not buy rawhide fearing losses this year. Many did not get the desired price. Depending on the type, cow hide were sold at 250 to 600 taka, but goat and sheep skins were not sold. Many wanted to give free goat hide but no one was interested. As a result, about 13,000 sacrificial goats and sheep skins were destroyed.
According to Upazila Animal Resources Office sources, 25 thousand 845 animals were sacrificed in this year's Qurbani Eid. Among them 3 thousand 196 cows and goats, 9 thousand 513 bulls, 6 buffaloes, 11 thousand 945 goats and 1 thousand 185 sheep.
According to the price set by the government, the price of salted cow leather is Tk 40 to Tk 44 per square foot, goat skin Tk 18 to Tk 20 and goat skin Tk 12 to Tk 14 per square foot. But although cow skin was sold at a much lower price than the fixed price, goat skin was not sold.
Mohsin Ali of Pandul Apuarkhata village of the upazila said that no one wanted to buy goat skin at the price of 15 thousand taka. Although one person agreed to take it, asking for 20 Tk, it was not sold. As a result, he is putting it in the ground. Aminul Islam and Abul Kashem of Naora village of Dhamsreni said the same thing.
Hayrat Ali of Hatiar Gaburjan village said that he sat at home all day with two goat skins but could not find a buyer. Later it was brought to the market but it could not be sold because no one even asked the price.
Akbar Ali of Dobar Par village said that the skins of those who sacrificed goats or sheep were not sold. Many have buried in the ground, and many have donated. He also said that he saved cow skin worth 75 thousand taka for two and a half taka.
Businessmen Jogen Rabidas and Bablu Rabidas said that goat skin is not given free of charge. The amount of salt that will be spent on that skin cannot be found at that price.
Talking to a businessman named Banvasa of Tabakpur area, it is known that he did not buy Khasi or goat skin but bought 11 cow skins for 5500 taka. But due to lack of price, he was forced to sell 11 skins for 3700 Tk at a loss of 1800 Tk.
A teacher of Hafizia Madrasa, who did not wish to be named, said that the skin of goats and sheep used to be sold for five hundred to eight hundred taka. That leather is not sold for ten and twenty Tk now. Many people donated Khasi and goat skins to them, but they are in trouble as they are not sold.
Another leather trader named Rupchan Mia said that he did not buy goat skin due to lack of demand. Losses have been faced for several years. The tannery owners have had capital lying around for a long time. Every year I buy 7-8 thousand skins, but this time I bought about 500 skins on loan due to lack of capital. Each skin costs 150-200 Tk. But this time the businessman is afraid of not getting the desired price.
Senior leather trader Samchul Mia (70) said, like every year, the price of leather is low. Besides, the price of salt for preserving leather is high. The price of everything in the country increases and only the price of leather decreases.
Leather business has collapsed since last 98 years. So far he has lost about one crore taka. Tannery owners are owed Tk.1.5 crore, they do not want to pay the dues Many have lost capital and become destitute, while some have closed this business and started another business. According to this businessman, leather is the big industry of the country, to sustain this industry, the government should come forward with the incentives of the businessmen.
In this regard, Kurigram district field and market inspector Nasir Uddin said, we have monitored the market, there is sufficient salt stock in various markets for preserving leather. But traders have no loss.
Due to not getting the desired price, the sacrificers and seasonal traders suffer losses.