The government has taken steps to prevent rawhide smuggling in areas along the country's border, Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana has said. “Already the government has fixed the prices of rawhides in Dhaka and outside the capital, and it has strengthened vigilance in areas along the border to prevent rawhide smuggling,” she told reporters after visiting the tannery industrial area at Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) on Wednesday. Also read: Savar Tannery Estate: Guideline to be prepared over plot allocation This year, as many as 97 to 98 lakh animals will be sacrificed across the country during Eid-ul-Azha, the Secretary said. Already 1.21 crore rawhides have been prepared and the same will be processed at Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Savar, said Zakia. "The ministry has taken steps to keep the Dhaleshwari river and its adjacent areas along the tannery industry area free from pollution," she added.  

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was on Thursday put on high alert to prevent rawhide smuggling, a day after Eid-ul-Azha, a holy festival during which Muslims sacrifice animals. BGB Commander (49th Battalion) Lt Colonel Selim Reza told UNB that the force has intensified patrolling along the Benapole border. Read: Govt fixes rawhide prices ahead of Eid-ul-Azha Sources said the BGB has stepped up vigil not only in Benapole, but also in Gatipara, Bara Achra, Sadipur, Raghunathpur, Ghiba, Dhanyakhola, Putkhali and Goga, Kayba, Agrabhulot, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Shikarpur, Shalkona and Shahjatpur areas. The seasonal smugglers have stockpiled rawhide after purchasing the same at a high price. According to traders, the quality of Bangladeshi rawhide is better than that of India and that’s why there is a demand for the Bangladeshi product in the neighbouring country. In different areas of Sharsha upazila, five mounds of cow hides are being sold at Tk 300-400 and 10 mounds of cow hides at Tk 600. On the other hand, in West Bengal state of India, sacrificial cow hides weighing five mounds are being sold for Rs 400-600 and those weighing 10 mounds are being sold for Rs 800-1,000. Read:Export rawhides to ensure fair prices: GM Quader Lt Colonel Selim said the law enforcement agencies are working to prevent smuggling of goods, including rawhide. This year, the government has fixed raw cow hide prices at Tk 40-45 per sq ft in the capital and Tk 33-37 outside Dhaka.