Seasonal rawhide traders count big losses in Magura

Seasonal rawhide traders in Magura are facing severe difficulties due to widespread irregularities in the purchase of sacrificial animal hides during Eid-ul-Azha this year.

Adoption of new policy by the government over skin-hide trade raised hope among traders of the district but low price of skins has shattered their dreams.

According to the District Livestock Office, a total of 66,978 cows have been slaughtered in the district during this Eid-ul-Azha.

Seasonal traders purchased sacrificial animal skins at high prices but they are facing losses for selling those as low prices.

Seasonal skin trader Mukul Khan in Chhayabithi Road area of Magura town said the government fixed cow hide price at Tk55 to 60 per square foot for outside Dhaka and Tk60 to 65 for Dhaka city. But they could not sell rawhides at the government fixed rate.

"As per the government fixed rate, we should have gotten Tk1,200 for the skin of a middle sized cow. But got only Tk600 for that. On the other hand we sold per piece of goat hide at Tk20. This price does not cover our purchasing rate," he said.

Another seasonal trader Ratan Sheikh in Nanduali area of Magura town said, "I purchased goat hide at Tk30 to 40 per piece. But I left my skins into bush as no trader agreed to purchase those. How shall I repay my loan that I took from an NGO?."

Skin-hide wholesaler Razu Khan in Vina area of Magura town said, "The government has fixed the price for salt-cured rawhides. So how shall we pay the government rate as the skins of seasonal traders are mostly without salt."

Another skin-hide wholesaler Yunush Ali in Notun Bazar area of Magura said, "This year we have faced extreme crisis of capital. The government sanctions loan for tannery owners. But we are deprived of loan though we collect skins from the grassroots level .Moreover, the government has distributed raw salt for mosques and madrasas . “