In Gaibandha, seasonal traders have left hundreds of sacrificial animal hides along highways and roadside areas after failing to find buyers and fair prices following Eid-ul-Adha. Traders blame market syndicates for a sharp collapse in rawhide prices, leaving small and seasonal traders in heavy losses.
Sources said Gaibandha had demand for around 1,37,500 sacrificial animals this Eid. From the afternoon of Eid day, seasonal traders began bringing hides to the Kalibazar rawhide market in Palashbari, the largest in northern Bangladesh. Orphanages and madrassas also collected donated hides from sacrificed animals.
However, for two consecutive days, both institutions and traders waited for buyers without success. With no purchase offers, several traders left hides on the highway after long hours of waiting.
The situation has pushed small traders into severe financial distress across the district.
Manik Chandra Ravidash, 55, a small trader from Chapadah village in Sadar upazila, said he usually travels from village to village by bicycle during Eid to collect hides. He later sells them at the Palashbari haat, where Dhaka-based wholesalers usually arrive. However, this year the main haat is scheduled for next Wednesday, and major buyers have not yet arrived.
Ravidash said he bought cattle hides worth around Tk40,000 on Eid day using borrowed money. “Rawhide prices in Gaibandha are very low this year. Supply is high in local markets, but wholesalers are not buying. Small traders have invested by taking loans, but we are unable to sell,” he added.
Another trader, Haripod Das, 55, from Monohorpur village in Palashbari upazila, said he collected hides worth Tk50,000 on Eid day by visiting nearby villages. He later failed to sell them at Gaibandha town market and again received no price offers at Palashbari haat the next day.
He said wholesalers told him they had no demand and no market to resell the hides. Unable to sell, he has salted the hides at home, fearing further losses.
Local traders said the Palashbari rawhide haat traditionally operates on Wednesdays. This year it is expected to be held on Wednesday, June 3. Traders from eight northern districts usually bring hides to the market using rickshaws, vans and small transport vehicles.
However, this year hides began arriving even before the official market day.
Palashbari Rawhide Traders Association leader Mahmudul Hasan said tannery owners from Dhaka usually arrive on market days to purchase hides. He said their demand will determine prices in the upcoming haat.
Traders said the government has fixed prices at Tk55 per square foot for cattle hides outside Dhaka and Tk12 to Tk15 per square foot for goat hides. However, small traders said they bought cattle hides at Tk60 to Tk65 per square foot and goat hides at Tk18 to Tk20 per square foot from villages.
An unnamed small trader said he borrowed Tk35,000 from a moneylender at high interest to buy hides and is now unable to sell them. He said even goat hides are not attracting buyers.
Arshad Ali, a rawhide trader in Gaibandha town, said small traders bought hides at higher-than-government rates, which has discouraged wholesalers from purchasing at profitable levels.
He also said lumpy skin disease has affected livestock this year, reducing hide quality and making wholesalers cautious about purchases.
While traders cited multiple reasons, including market conditions, sources said tannery syndicates are largely behind the price instability.
A madrassa teacher, speaking anonymously, said their institution regularly collects donated hides during Eid. This year, no buyers visited for two days. He said they transported hides to the highway by van in hopes of selling them to passing traders.
He said they waited all day without finding buyers and eventually left the hides behind due to financial pressure.
He added that madrassa workers often face criticism during such activities. “If this happened in another community, there would have been more humanitarian response,” he said, adding that low prices and lack of buyers weaken charitable institutions during Eid seasons.
