B Mirror Report: The government has undertaken a series of measures ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to ensure smooth collection, preservation and marketing of sacrificial animal hides across the country.

As part of the initiatives, authorities have fixed new prices for rawhides, strengthened preservation campaigns and tightened monitoring to prevent smuggling and market disorder during the Eid season.

This year, the price of raw cowhide has been set at Tk 62-67 per square foot in Dhaka and Tk 57-62 outside the capital, reflecting an increase of around Tk 2 per square foot compared to last year.

The price of khashi hides has been fixed at Tk 25-30 per square foot, while goat hides will be sold at Tk 22-25 per square foot.

Industry insiders said the size of a cowhide generally ranges between 20 and 45 square feet depending on the animal, meaning the price of a single hide could range from Tk 1,200 to Tk 3,500.

To raise public awareness about proper hide preservation, the government has launched nationwide campaigns through television commercials, social media platforms, banners, leaflets and SMS services.

Deputy Director of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Leather Cell Md Mizanur Rahman said around 200,000 leaflets would be distributed nationwide to promote proper handling and preservation practices.

In a bid to maintain discipline in leather industrial zones and manage the capacity of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), the government has imposed a seven-day restriction on the entry of rawhides into Dhaka from other districts after Eid.

Law enforcement agencies will intensify surveillance at major entry points and toll plazas during the period to prevent illegal transportation and smuggling of hides.

District administrations have also been instructed to ensure local collection and preservation of hides using adequate salt and arrange temporary storage facilities where necessary.

A joint monitoring committee comprising officials from the ministries of industries, commerce, fisheries and livestock, along with the Public Security Division, will oversee rawhide pricing, transport, storage and overall management activities.

Meanwhile, the Department of Livestock Services said more than 15,000 professional butchers and nearly 23,000 non-professional butchers have received training on hygienic skinning and proper preservation of sacrificial animal hides ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.