‘No salt crisis during Eid-ul-Adha’
The excess demand for salt, for the preservation of rawhides during the upcoming Eid has been estimated at one lakh tonnes
Industries Secretary Mohammad Abdul Halim has assured tanners of no salt crisis during the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha.
“At present, there are 18 lakh tonnes of salt in stock against the annual demand of 14 lakh tonnes,” he said while addressing a press conference at the Tannery Estate in Savar on Wednesday.
The excess demand for salt, for the preservation of rawhides during the upcoming Eid has been estimated at one lakh tonnes.
The tannery industry needs another one lakh tonnes for the rest of the year.
About 1.70 lakh animals will be slaughtered during the Eid-ul Azha, the industries secretary said, citing the data collected by Fisheries and Livestock Ministry.
Rawhide traders said it requires 8-10 kilogram of salt for preserving each cow rawhide, 10-12 kg for each buffalo rawhide and 1-2kg for rawhides of goat and sheep.
The industries secretary hoped that work on the Savar tannery estate will be completed by 2020.
“Once the tannery village goes into operation, it will bring a great opportunity for the country,” Abdul Halim said adding: “We hope our leather and leather goods exports will reach $5 billion by 2021.”
In the last fiscal year 2018-19, the export volume of leather and leather goods was only $1.2 billion.
In reply to a question, he said the government has planned to establish another backward linkage industry for leather and leather goods, having a research and training institute.
BUET Prof Md Delwar Hossain and President of Bangladesh Tanners’ Association (BAT) Shahin Ahmed were, among others, present at the event.
