BM Desk : The price of leather has gone up by 5 to 10 taka per foot in the capital, according to the Ministry of Commerce. But in practice, it hasn’t made a difference. As before, traders complain that they must sell cowhide for less. The leather is being sold for 55 to 60 taka, as it was previously, even though the Ministry of Commerce has set the price of cowhide at 60 to 65 taka per square foot. The cost of leather per square foot has decreased even further in certain instances. Leather dealers claimed to have purchased cowhide for little more than 500 to 750 taka from the sacrificial animals and sold it to tannery owners for 600 to 900 taka.

Uttara leather trader Hefaz Ullah said, “We have had to face real danger by collecting leather from the sacrificial animals for 750 taka. The price of good quality leather in this area has increased to a maximum of 800 to 820 taka. There is no way to sell leather above this.”Badda leather trader Sirja said, ‘The demand for raw leather is at its lowest yet. We could not sell the leather at a good price. Compared to the cost of a van and two laborers, it is safe to say that there was no profit. The whole day’s work was in vain.

But according to tannery directors and agents, the price of salted leather has been set by the Ministry of Commerce. Purchasing raw leather from tanneries has frequently resulted in price reductions. They have falsely stated, meanwhile, that the entire leather was purchased for 700–900 Taka. Many high-quality leathers were purchased for 1,200 to 1,500 taka, according to tannery personnel.

In the meantime, goat leather is not in demand this time around either, just like it was last time. Goat skins have been distributed for free by many, and in many instances, the cost has increased to 15 to 30 taka. The majority of the 8 million to 8.5 million skins that tanning businesses want to collect this Eid were gathered on the first day of the holiday.