Government to go tough on syndication, extortion

The government has planned to supply 30,000 tonnes of salt free of cost to help preserve the rawhides and skins of sacrificial animals across the country during the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha.

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said this while talking to newsmen after a meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, Environment and Forest Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, senior officials of the relevant state agencies and representatives from the trade bodies were present at the meeting.

"The government will provide 30,000 tonnes of salt for free to various institutions, including orphanages and Lillah Boarding, to help preserve the rawhides and skins of sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azdha," the commerce adviser said.

He also noted that the government would take necessary measures to prevent syndication in trading such hides and check extortion on highways and other areas in the country during the festival.

Mr Bashir urged media men to provide information about extortions, if any, to the government for the sake of taking necessary steps in this regard.

"We will sensitize the border guards Bangladesh (BGB) and increase vigilance along the border points so that rawhides cannot be smuggled out from the country," commerce adviser said adding that the government is considering reducing the rate 'hasil' to below 5.0 per cent.

"We will allow the export of sacrificial rawhide to ensure fair prices if needed."

Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said "We have taken initiatives to facilitate transport of sacrificial animals across the country."

Lieutenant General (retd.) Abdul Hafiz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defense and National Integration, said the government should go tougher on any syndication and extortion centring trading of sacrificial animals.

He also mentioned that a central monitoring cell will be formed to oversee the collections, preservation, transactions, transportation of rawhides during the Eid-ul-Adha .

The government has already formed a high-powered committee, led by the commerce adviser, to ensure fair prices and proper management of rawhide and skin of sacrificial animals.

The commerce ministry is expected to fix the prices of raw-hide and skins at secretarial office.

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