Eid-ul-Azha is not just a religious festival; it is a unique lesson in sacrifice, humanity, equality and social responsibility. Every year millions of people sacrifice animals to please Allah. But after the sacrifice, one important matter falls into crisis again and again because of our lack of awareness, mismanagement and neglect: preserving the animals' hides. These hides are not merely a by-product. They are a national resource directly tied to the country's economy, the rights of orphans and the poor, the future of an industry and foreign earnings.

Millions of animals are slaughtered in Bangladesh at Eid-ul-Azha, so a huge quantity of rawhide is collected, one of the main raw materials of the country's leather industry. For many years the industry has been seen as a promising export sector. But in reality, through lack of awareness, poor preservation, transport difficulties, syndicate control and weak market management, a large amount of hide is wasted every year. Ordinary people, seasonal traders, orphanages and madrasas, and the whole economy lose out.

Sacrificial hides are a national resource, and failing to preserve them properly costs crores of taka every year. Recognising this, the government has decided this year to distribute salt free of charge for preserving hides, which is without doubt a timely and positive step.

Because salt is not applied properly right after the sacrifice, a large amount of hide rots or loses quality. According to experts, if hides are preserved with the right amount of salt their quality stays intact and a fair price can be had in the international market too.

The more awareness grows about preserving hides, the less will be wasted, and the more the economy, orphanages and madrasas and the millions of people linked to the leather industry will benefit. So not only the government but ordinary people must also act responsibly. Just as the true lesson of the sacrifice is sacrifice and humanity, the proper use of resources is also deeply linked to it.

The biggest problem with sacrificial hides begins right after slaughter. Many do not know that if a hide is not preserved properly it starts to spoil within a few hours. Too little salt, leaving it in a damp place, drying it too much in the sun or leaving it neglected for a long time all reduce its quality. A hide once seen as a valuable product in the international market then becomes almost worthless.

In Bangladesh sacrificial hides have long been one of the main sources of income for orphanages and madrasas. People donate hides out of religious feeling, so the money can be used for orphaned children's food, education and shelter. But when hide prices fall or hides are spoiled, these vulnerable institutions suffer most. Many orphanages face a budget crisis for the year when they do not get the income they expected after Eid. Protecting hides is therefore not only an economic matter but a humanitarian duty.

The leather industry was once a highly promising sector for Bangladesh. The country's tanneries built a reputation in the international market, and there was significant demand for Bangladeshi leather goods in Europe and elsewhere. Shoes, bags, belts, jackets and other products were exported and earned foreign currency. But mismanagement, environmental problems and the poor quality of rawhide have largely held that potential back.

Experts believe that if a large share of the hides collected in the sacrifice season could be preserved properly, Bangladesh could again build a strong position in the international market, because the number of animals, the labour force and production costs together give the country a favourable environment for the industry. What is needed is efficient management, modern preservation methods and a corruption-free market structure.

Every year the government sets hide prices, but in many cases those prices are not applied on the ground. In villages and in city lanes, ordinary people are forced to sell hides cheaply. Traders often cut prices on various pretexts, and in some places people even have to throw hides away for lack of transport and preservation. This is not only an economic loss but a waste of national resources.

There is no alternative to public awareness in protecting sacrificial hides. People need to know that right after slaughter the hide must be cleaned and enough salt applied. It must be folded and stored so that air can circulate. Blood, dirt and standing water make it rot quickly. Arrangements to get hides quickly to collection centres or warehouses are also essential.

Local administrations, city corporations, mosque committees, voluntary organisations and the media can play an important role here. Wide campaigns before Eid can teach people the rules of preserving hides. Awareness messages on television, social media and mosque loudspeakers would have a positive effect.

Another big question around the leather industry is control by middlemen and syndicates. Often the real collectors or orphanages do not get a fair price, while an influential group controls the whole market and makes huge profits, which breeds frustration among ordinary people. If the government can control the market through strict monitoring, digital tracking and a transparent auction system, the situation can improve.

The leather industry is also very important environmentally. Without proper management, rawhide rots and pollutes the environment, and gaps in waste management at tanneries pollute rivers and water bodies. There is no alternative to environment-friendly technology to make the industry sustainable. With modern effluent treatment plants, environment-friendly tanneries and international standards, the industry can recover.

The leather industry is also a field of opportunity for young Bangladeshi entrepreneurs. If, instead of only exporting rawhide, the country can produce more high-value leather goods at home, jobs will be created and the economy will gain new momentum. Some local companies have already won a reputation abroad by making international-standard shoes and bags. That success can be spread further.

Sacrificial hides also matter from a religious point of view. Islam discourages waste, and it is a duty to use every part of the sacrifice properly. A spoiled hide is not only an economic loss but a kind of neglect that raises questions about our social responsibility.

Economic competition in today's world is very tough. As Bangladesh looks for new export sectors, it cannot afford to neglect the leather industry. Alongside ready-made garments, leather goods could be another strong pillar of the economy. That needs long-term planning, skilled human resources, technological development and quality that meets the demands of the international market.

From the ordinary village farmer to the small trader in the city, everyone is linked to sacrificial hides in some way. It is not just an industrial sector but part of a social and economic cycle, and while that cycle keeps turning, many livelihoods are protected.

We must remember that the hide of a sacrificial animal is not rubbish. It is a valuable resource tied to the country's economy, the rights of the poor, the future of an industry and Bangladesh's prospects in the international market. Alongside the joy of the sacrifice, preserving and properly managing hides deserves equal importance.

Finally, a nation that does not understand the value of its resources can never move towards sustainable development. Protecting sacrificial hides is therefore not just a seasonal duty but an important part of economic awareness, social humanity and the national interest. In Bangladesh's overall context, hides must now be valued anew.

The writer is a journalist, columnist, political analyst and editor of Amar Din.

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