Buyers claim prices up but sellers unhappy

There is a substantial increase in rawhide pricing over the previous year, but vendors and seasonal collectors are still not happy. As purchasers allegedly take advantage of legal loopholes to provide below-market prices, the Eid al-Adha leather trade is being accused of being manipulated by syndicates.

The temporary leather market hub at the Aminbazar bridge in Savar saw a continuous influx of animal hides on Saturday as Muslims throughout Bangladesh celebrated Eid al-Adha. The hides were delivered by vans, pickup vehicles, and autorickshaws.

A student of Jahanara Siddiquia Madrasa under Basan Thana of Gazipur, Masudur Rahman, brought ten hides to the market. He claimed that although they are offering Tk 750 to Tk 800 each piece, seasonal buyers are flatly rejecting two or three hides. "Sellers are still not receiving fair rates even though prices have increased by Tk 200 to Tk 300 over the previous year."

Medium-sized cowhides sold for Tk 450 to Tk 500, while giant cowhides were bought for Tk 850 to Tk 900, according to a market survey. The low prices of Tk 5 to Tk 15 for goat and sheep hides were frequently based on average estimates.

Vendors contend that these prices are still unaffordable, pointing to high overhead expenses of Tk 300 to Tk 400 per hide for labor, salt, preservation, and shipping. According to one dealer, "We are also forced to buy hides that are diseased or defective, which have no resale value at tanneries."

A student from Salehpur Tahsimul Ulum Islamiya Madrasa named Zainul Abedin brought thirty-four cowhides. We sold for Tk 850 apiece. It should have cost a little more, to be honest," he said.

In order to stabilize the market, the government fixed prices on May 25: salted cowhides at Tk 60–65 per square foot in Dhaka (Tk 55–60 outside), with a minimum price of Tk 1,350 per hide in Dhaka and Tk 1,150 elsewhere. Sheep hides ranged from Tk 22 to Tk 27 per square foot, while goat hides were Tk 20 to 22. However, data show that the majority of trades took place far below the standards.