Tk 10 cr rawhide smuggled out through Satkhira

Cowhide of average size was sols at Tk 800-1200 this year against Tk 1000-1400 last year and goatskin at Tk 150-200 against Tk 200-300.

A situation was created by some unscrupulous big traders in connivance with a section of tanners in Dhaka. They delayed purchase and offered low prices. They dominated the market, Mahiuddin Ahmed, a hide trader at Satkhira town told this correspondent.

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Taking this advantage, an organised gang of smugglers purchased huge quantities of raw hide at throwaway prices. They hoarded those in bordering villages and smuggled those out, he claimed.

A government official seeking anonymity also corroborated his statement.

Golam Mostafa, another hide trader in the town said, this year he purchased a small quantity as he did not get financial support from tanners in Dhaka.

"Tannery owners did not give money in advance to traders in the district though they got Tk 200 crore bank loans", he alleged.

Big traders deliberately delayed purchase from small traders, which compelled them to sell hides and skin at lower prices, he said.

Some small traders even had last year's unpaid bills. Many of them incurred losses as they purchased rawhides keeping in mind last year's prices. But prices fell as big traders and tanner offered lower prices and delayed in purchase, he said.

Major Ashraf, Second in Command, 12 Rifles Battalion, told newsmen that an organised gang of smugglers hoarded raw hide in border areas to smuggle those to India for higher prices.

BDR pesonnel recovered 200 pieces of rawhide worth Tk 1,50,000 from Bhadiali village in Kalaroa upazila on January 4.

He said BDR is trying to check the smuggling.