Chattogram rawhide traders want bank loans on easy terms to recover loses after the area's 50 percent of tanneries have been closed due to the absence of a competitive market in the port city.

They are going through a tough time with their business and forced to sell their rawhide at cheaper rates.

Rawhide trade was vibrant in Chattogram years ago, but now it has decreased significantly, said traders.

They said during Eid-ul-Azha, most of the rawhide is sold at a lower price than the price fixed by the government. Besides, collection of rawhide has been decreased as the processing industries have almost collapsed, as it is difficult to comply with the regulations of the Department of Environment.

According to the traders, there were at least 22 tanneries in the port city. Since 1971, various reasons contributed to the shutdown of the factories. Among them, only one named Riff Leather owned by TK Group has survived till now.

Due to such closure in Chattogram, the warehouses have to depend on Dhaka, and the arrears of sold rawhide have increased every year, they said.

According to the data of Chattogram Rawhide Warehouse Traders Association, a total of 112 rawhide merchants belong to this association and another 150 are outside it in Chattogram. However, only 52 merchants, out of 112, are running their businesses and the rest 60 have closed down in the last few years.

Moslem Uddin, president of the association, said, "Most of the products have to be sold in Dhaka as there is no competitive market in Chattogram. Many businesspersons are closing their businesses due to financial crisis. They will be able to restore the business if the government gives bank loans on easy terms."

"In addition, the government should arrange a specific tannery zone for Chattogram and a central ETP, considering the environment pollution," he added.

Enamul Haque, a rawhide trader at Aturar Depot Bazar area, said, "Now Chattogram-based Riff Leather buy only 10-15 percent of total collection of rawhide. And for the rest we have to depend on the tanneries in Dhaka..."

He also said about 20,000-30,000 skins are wasted or damaged every year as the tannery owners are not interested to buy those.

 This year, the Chattogram traders are expected to collect at least four lakh pieces of rawhide of cattle after Eid-ul-Azha. They collected 4.43 lakh in 2022, 4.82 lakh in 2021, 5.12 lakh in 2020, 5.5 lakh in 2019 and 5.75 lakh in 2018.