Quader warns of actions against those behind rawhide price slump

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday warned that people responsible for the rawhide price fall will be punished, reports news agency UNB.

“The government will investigate to see if any syndicate is behind this situation (slump of rawhide price) and take legal steps,” he told a post-Eid news conference at the Secretariat.

Quader, also ruling Awami League general secretary, said he does not have any idea about the real picture. “I’ve learned the matter from media reports.”

“I don’t know who’re actually involved,” the minister added.

Before Eid-ul-Azha, the government fixed salted cowhide and buffalo rawhide at Tk 45-50 per square feet in Dhaka and at Tk 35-40 for outside the capital.

On the other hand, price of salted skin of castrated goats was fixed at Tk 18-20 per square feet while the price of salted skin un-castrated goat was fixed at Tk 13-15.

The government decided to allow export of rawhide on Tuesday night to ensure fair price as the hide of sacrificial animals were not being sold at the prices fixed by the ministry.

Quader said a group of people always try to disrupt the business atmosphere.

He trashed opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi’s allegation that an Awami League leader was involved in rawhide price slump, saying they are only raising sweeping allegations.

“It’s not possible to find out who’re behind the slump within a day after Eid,” Quader said.