Trading in raw hides of sacrificial animals picked up at Posta in Lalbagh, Dhaka. Although the government raised and set new prices this year, hides are selling at last year's rates. Supply is also lower, and traders fear they will not meet their purchase targets.

They said that as soon as the sacrifice ends in Dhaka city, many hides now go towards Hemayetpur in Savar, which has reduced the supply reaching Posta.

On the evening of Thursday 28 May, middlemen, madrasa teachers and students, and representatives of various organisations were seen bringing hides to Posta on vans and pickups.

Shaista Khan Road, Raj Narayan Dhar Road and nearby streets in Lalbagh rang with the calls of wholesalers, who were collecting hides from seasonal traders from different areas.

Hides began arriving at Posta from different parts of Dhaka after midday. When a price was agreed, they were taken into warehouses.

Seasonal traders and people from madrasa authorities voiced anger at not getting the government-set price. They complained that while the cost of salt and preservation has risen, hide prices remain the same as last year.

Anwar Hossain, owner of the Kamal and Sons hide warehouse at Posta, told Jago News that hide arrivals were higher last year because more animals were sacrificed. "This year fewer animals were sacrificed and fewer hides are coming in. On Eid day today my target was to buy 1,500 pieces, but so far I have bought 750. I fear the target will not be met this year."

He added that as soon as the sacrifice ends in Dhaka, hides now head towards Hemayetpur, which is another factor.

Wholesalers began buying from seasonal traders after midday. Each large hide is selling for Tk 750 to Tk 900, medium hides for Tk 600 to Tk 700 and small hides for Tk 150 to Tk 500.

Trading really picks up after 5pm on Eid day, and collection will continue until 10pm. The hides collected here are first salted and then sent to the tanneries in Savar.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.