Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muqtadir has said that due to a lack of awareness, it was not possible to sell leather at government-fixed prices in many cases following the Eid-ul-Azha sacrifices.
Responding to journalists’ questions at the Secretariat on Monday, the minister explained that if salt is not applied to leather immediately after sacrifice, it quickly spoils, resulting in significant damage and various problems in selling.
The commerce minister clarified that the government fixes prices only for salted, preserved leather. However, many people who personally sacrifice animals donate the leather without making preservation arrangements.
“In those cases, due to a lack of immediate preservation, much leather rots. As a result, quality declines, and it is not possible to get the fixed price,” he said.
The minister noted that the government supplied free salt this year to assist with leather preservation. Despite this, negligence and lack of awareness led to poor quality in many instances.
Referring to the potential of the leather sector, the commerce minister said that if preserved properly, sacrificial animal skins can serve as important raw materials for the country’s leather and leather goods industry. He stressed the need for further awareness at the field level.
Muqtadir also commented that the budget for the next fiscal year will be business and investment friendly. He expressed hope that the country’s economic activities will become more dynamic, playing a supportive role in increasing investment and employment.
