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The government will take necessary steps next year to ensure fair prices of rawhide of the sacrificial animals across the country.
"Rawhide prices of sacrificial animals were fixed at a meeting with tanners, leather and footwear makers. But it was not sold accordingly," said commerce minister Tipu Munshi on Wednesday.
He said this in reply to a query at a press briefing at his secretariat office on the outcome of his August 18-23 visit to MERCOSUR member states.
MERCOSUR is the South American trading bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
"We came to know on the evening of Eid-ul-Azha that rawhide prices countrywide are not selling at fixed prices. After that, we decided to export rawhide."
"We've learned from this year's poor rawhide prices during the second-largest festival of Muslims. So, we'll take steps to ensure fair prices from the next Eid-ul-Azha," Mr Tipu said.
Responding to another question, he said Brazil has shown its interest to export beef to Bangladesh.
Senior commerce secretary Md Mofizul Islam moderated the event where Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Rubana Huq and senior ministry officials, among others, were present.
"A policy on leather was approved by the cabinet last week. Rawhide will be sold as per the policy," he said.
Mr Islam hoped there would be no problem about the rawhide prices of sacrificial animals from next year.
Leather is a potential sector in the country. For this, the government will continue with its support for the development of the sector, the secretary said.
"Alongside policy-guided sales, we'll look for an opportunity to export rawhide or wet blue so that rawhide of sacrificial animals is sold at fair prices."
About the recent spike in onion prices, Mr Islam said the increased rate of the item in Indian market for flooding has pushed its price up in Bangladesh market.
He, however, hoped onion prices will be stabilised shortly.
Mr Tipu said MERCOSUR bloc could be a potential export market for Bangladeshi products, especially ready-made garment (RMG), jute goods and pharmaceuticals.
But the tariff rate for exporting to the market is still very high as the bloc imposes 35 per cent tariff on export of Bangladeshi goods.
The minister's visit aimed to do the spadework in order to sign a free trade area (FTA) deal for bilateral trade and investment development.
He held some 17 meetings with businessmen to expand trade. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed, showed a document available with the ministry.
Mr Tipu said Bangladesh has proposed MERCOSUR to sign an FTA deal and the members states agreed in principle to enter into an agreement.
MERCOSUR summit will be held next December where Dhaka's proposal on the deal would be presented.
He said the deal would be possible if the member states of the bloc reach a consensus.
According to the document, a single country RMG exhibition and fashion show will be hosted in Brazil in November under the aegis of BGMEA.
In her speech, Ms Rubana said Bangladeshi goods' entry into Brazilian market is very difficult due to their conservative trade policy.
Although there is 35 per cent tariff on the export of Bangladeshi goods, especially RMG, the total tariff ultimately goes up to 60 per cent, she added.
The briefing was told that MERCOSUR member states are very interested in expanding trade with Bangladesh.
During fiscal year (FY) 2017-18, Bangladesh earned $208 million through exporting goods to the MERCOSUR bloc.
Brazil alone imported goods worth $176.89 million from Bangladesh.
On the other hand, imports from Brazil stood at $1,520.61 million in FY 2017-18.
Major importables from Brazil include sugar and sugar confectionery, cotton, ship and animal or vegetable oil.
There are an estimated 300 million people in the MERCOSUR member states.