Confusion persists over the exact number of sacrificial animal hides collected and preserved in Chattogram this Eid-ul-Azha, with conflicting data emerging from government departments, monitoring bodies, and private traders.

According to sources, discrepancies exist between figures reported by the Artadar Samiti (association of hoarders), the Ministry of Commerce control room, and the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC).

While official statements claim only 620 skins were wasted, the Chattogram City Corporation’s cleanliness department estimates that 40,000–50,000 spoiled hides were collected from city streets alone.

Govt raises rawhide prices for this year’s sacrifice season

The Ministry of Commerce has increased the minimum price of animal hides compared to last year:

- Salted cow hide per square foot: In Dhaka, Tk 60-65 (previously Tk 55-60); outside Dhaka: Tk 55-60 (previously Tk 50-55).

- Raw cow hide: In Dhaka, minimum Tk 1,350; outside Dhaka, minimum Tk 1,150.

- Salted goat hide per square foot: Tk 22-27 nationwide (previously Tk 20-25).

- Goat hide per square foot: Tk 20-22, (previously Tk 18-20).

These prices were announced ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to encourage proper preservation and prevent waste.

Three different reports on hide collection

In Chattogram, rawhides are primarily stored at the hoarding houses at Aturar Depot, managed by the Greater Chittagong Raw Leather Stores Traders Cooperative Association. Additional temporary storage takes place across upazilas and in designated areas such as Chaktai, Majhirghat, Nasirabad Industrial Area, Pahartali, and Halishahar, as well as in madrasas and orphanages.

Different institutions have issued varying numbers:

Greater Chittagong Raw Leather Traders Cooperative Association reported they collected 4,15,000 animal hides, including 3,63,000 cow hides, 52,000 goat hides, and 10,500 buffalo hides.

Ministry of Commerce Control Room in June 8 report stated they collected 2,72,100 hides in Chattogram district, including goat hides.

BSCIC (via District Administration reports) claimed a total of 5,86,371 hidescollected in Chittagong city and upazilas, including 5,30,591 cow and buffalo hides

Md Muslim Uddin, former president of the leather traders’ cooperative, said, “We collected more than our target this year – 4,15,000 hides from Chittagong city and 15 upazilas combined.”

Meanwhile, BSCIC Deputy General Manager SMM Alamgir Alkaderi told Jago News, “We received information that 5,31,000 cow and buffalo hides were collected and stored across Chittagong upazilas, including the city.”

Spoilage due to price gaps and poor coordination

SM Nazer Hossain, President of the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Chattogram Division, alleged that many seasonal traders dumped rawhides after failing to get a fair price from buyers.

“There was no clear pricing system. Traders bought hides at higher rates but couldn’t sell them back due to lack of coordination,” he said. “As a result, many threw the hides away on the streets.”

Chittagong City Corporation officials confirmed collecting thousands of spoiled hides from areas like Bahaddarhat, Agrabad Chowmuhani, Dewanhat, and Muradpur.

Deputy Chief Cleaning Officer Pranab Kumar Sharma said, “We removed around 40,000–50,000 spoiled hides within a day after Eid. The situation was worse in some parts of the city.”

However, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam denied widespread spoilage. “Only a small number of hides were spoiled due to delays caused by seasonal traders. It wasn’t as bad as media reports suggest,” she said.

Government mismanagement

Critics accuse the government of poor planning and delayed action.

“The Ministry of Commerce formed its monitoring team just four days before Eid,” said SM Nazer Hossain. “They had no time to make effective plans for skin collection and preservation in Chittagong city and 15 upazilas.”

He added, “A so-called meeting on rawhide management was held, but it lasted less than 15 minutes. There was no real discussion. No representatives from the leather trader community were invited.”

Md Mamun Iftekhar Rahman, Assistant Director of the Office of the Import and Export Controller and a member of the divisional committee, admitted there were issues.

“There was a labour shortage and limited storage capacity in Chittagong warehouses,” he said.

“Some traders brought hides from Cox’s Bazar and other districts, violating government instructions. Many hides arrived late and were spoiled due to heat.”

He also noted that Chattogram currently has only one tannery, which accepted about 1,00,000 hides – far below the total collected.

Steps taken by the administration

Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam defended the administration’s efforts. “We held five meetings before and after Eid to ensure smooth collection and preservation,” she said.

“We distributed Tk 92 lakh worth of salt free of charge to madrasas and local institutions for skin preservation.”

She denied allegations of mismanagement, saying, “We worked with full caution from collection to salting. We didn’t face any major problems.”

Despite government initiatives to improve rawhide preservation through free salt distribution and price increases, confusion, delays, and mismanagement led to significant losses.

With better planning, coordination, and infrastructure, future Eid seasons could see improved utilisation of this valuable resource.