BNP acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Industries Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said many properties of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) are decaying due to a lack of proper oversight.

“The purpose for which BSCIC was established has not received due attention. Many properties in BSCIC industrial estates in different districts are being neglected and deteriorating due to a lack of proper monitoring,” he said.

Rizvi was speaking at the inauguration of a five-day Leather and Leather Goods Fair 2026 organised by BSCIC at its auditorium in the afternoon.

The fair will run from 10:00am to 8:00pm every day until September 20.

The BNP leader said more factories and enterprises could be established on the vacant BSCIC land, but adequate attention is not being given to utilising the available space.

“All those concerned, including officials of the ministry, must work together to make BSCIC vibrant and viable again,” he said.

Rizvi said many young people struggle to find jobs after completing their studies, while BSCIC estates could provide opportunities for them to establish small factories near their homes, including honey-processing units and high-quality chocolate factories.

“Many of the doors of opportunity are closed. We have to open those doors. Once they are opened, we will be able to see the possibilities and unlock the potential,” he said.

The adviser said establishing BSCIC industrial estates in every district could play an important role in strengthening local economies by supporting entrepreneurs.

He said many traditional products, including footwear, were once produced locally and the country should revive such traditions to become self-reliant.

“To make our country self-sufficient and self-reliant, we must focus on cottage industries and develop them. For that, attention must be given to the sector at the policy level,” Rizvi said.

He stressed the need for a proper government policy to prevent residential areas from developing too close to tannery facilities.

The adviser also called for proper management and recycling of tannery waste to prevent chemicals from entering rivers, canals and wetlands.

He said around 3.5 crore square feet of leather is processed annually, generating waste containing chemicals that could cause serious environmental pollution if discharged untreated.

Rizvi said Bangladesh traditionally uses natural dyes for leather and textiles, whereas chemical dyes are now widely used, which can pose risks to human health and the environment.

“If we separate the chemicals from the waste and recycle the usable water before releasing it into drains, canals or rivers, it will be highly beneficial for the environment,” he said.

BSCIC Chairman Benazir Ahmed chaired the inaugural programme, while Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan attended as a special guest.

BSCIC said the fair was organised to develop the domestic leather industry, expand markets for entrepreneurs’ products and create direct interaction between entrepreneurs, consumers and relevant stakeholders.

Entrepreneurs from different parts of the country are displaying and selling a wide range of attractive, quality and diverse leather and leather goods at the fair.

There are 49 stalls in total. Of these, 43 stalls have been allocated to leather and leather goods entrepreneurs, while five stalls have been allocated to food and food-product entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs who received training on leather goods from BSCIC’s Design Centre are participating alongside entrepreneurs from the traditional Hazaribagh leather industry.