The Lalbagh Posta market in Dhaka has achieved its target of collecting 1 lakh raw hides this Eid. However, traders fear that 25 to 30 percent of these hides may be lost due to issues like smallpox and improper meat removal.
Traders reported that leather collection started intensively around 5 pm on Eid day and continued late into the night. The sale and collection of hides are still ongoing as of Wednesday. Despite the significant haul, the market has seen a decrease in the number of hides due to a decline in sacrificial animals.
On the third day of Eid, the bustling activity at Posta involved preserving collected hides with salt. Aftab Khan, president of the Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchant Association (BHSMA), confirmed they met their target but highlighted the challenge of preserving the hides in hot weather. He emphasised the importance of salting the hides quickly to prevent financial loss.
After collection, traders salt the hides at Posta before sending them to tanneries in Savar. However, many hides have suffered damage from smallpox and improper meat removal, leading to significant potential losses.
Aftab Khan advised, "Buy sacrificial hides carefully. We pay according to quality." He added that salted hides are bought at government-fixed prices, while unsalted hides fetch 5 to 7 rupees less. Proper timing in bringing hides to the market is crucial to preventing rot and ensuring good prices.
Improper preservation causes 15 to 20 percent loss of sacrificial hides annually. The current hot weather and traffic delays exacerbate this issue. Thus, traders urge the immediate salting of hides in their respective areas to avoid damage.
The tannery owners promise better prices for well-preserved hides, which are crucial as over half of their useful leather comes from Eid sacrifices. Shahadat Hossain of Shahadat and Company mentioned that smallpox limited their purchases to 60 to 70 percent of the target.
Kamal Uddin of Kamal and Sons buys damaged hides at a lower price, noting that two to four percent of hides have smallpox. The General Secretary of BHSMA, Haji Mohammad Tipu Sultan, advised nearby sales to minimise transport damage and ensure proper skin removal and salting.
Government regulations restrict transporting raw hides to Dhaka until 10 days after Eid to prevent spoilage. Traders express concern over a 25 to 30 percent loss of hides due to smallpox and improper handling.
The Posta market and other areas like Sciencelab, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, and Savar continue their hide collection efforts, but challenges persist in preserving and maximising the value of these raw materials.
