President of Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA), Md. Shaheen Ahamed, said on Monday that despite immense potentiality of earning foreign exchange from the leather sector the tannery industries have remained backward for lack of time-befitting policy.
The entrepreneurs of the tannery sector faced loss and struggled to survive at Savar Tannery hub where the factories have been shifted without developing necessary infrastructures including an inefficient waste management plant, he said.
Shaheen made the statement in a seminar on "Actions for Sustainable Development of the Leather Industry” jointly organised by the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF), BTA, and The Asia Foundation at the ERF Auditorium on Monday.
BTA President Md. Shaheen Ahmed, and Rehena Akter Ruma, head of projects and program of BTA, presented a keynote paper on the overall situation of the tannery sector.
Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation, Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO of BUILD, Tariqul Islam Khan, Managing Director, Marsons Tannery Ltd, ERF president Refayet Ullah Mirdha and its secretary Abul Kashem, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Read: Treat tannery wastes properly to export leather to EU, US: Speakers
Shaheed said around 40 lakh cows and 45 lakh goats are expected to be sacrificed during the Eid-ul-Azha later this month in the country, and Tk 50,000 to 55,000 crore will be the turnover in the sacrificial animal market.
He said on average the market value of raw hide of a cow of 22 square feet is estimated at Tk 850.
“Other processing will cost Tk 1900. The price of the finished leather is Tk2750. It is possible to make 10 pairs of good quality shoes in the local market or exportable items at an estimated price of Tk50,000,” he said.
Read: Speakers press for compliance in labour rights to develop tannery industry
Shaheen said foreign investors and local entrepreneurs can invest more in the potential leather industries if the government strengthens policy support and ensures global standard waste management plants.
Read more: Speakers press for timely implementation of tannery sector compliance work plan