CETP of int’l standard needed urgently for leather sector: FBCCI

A central effluent treatment plant (CETP) of international standard is necessary for the development of the leather sector of the country, said Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), yesterday. 

The CETP at the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate in Hemayetpur should be made operational as per international standards at the fastest possible time so that the leather sector's potentials can be utilised, he said.

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The leather sector has some of the highest potentials in Bangladesh, enabling 100 per cent value addition, he told a meeting of a Standing Committee on Hide and Skin, Leather and Leather Goods and Artificial Leather at the FBCCI.

However, due to a lack of proper management, raw leather has to be imported from abroad for manufacturing goods while those being generated in the country is rotting, he said.

The FBCCI president believes that compliance and certification were essential to developing leather and leather products of Bangladesh and enhancing sales in the global market.

He further called for inclusion of the young generation in modernising the sector.

FBCCI Senior Vice-President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu opined that cold storages and modern slaughterhouses could be established at district levels to preserve hides.

Slaughterhouses can also be a source of business if they run properly following government guidelines, he noted.

FBCCI Vice President Md Amin Helaly said increasing use of cold storages would help ensure supply of raw leather round the year according to demand.

About 60 per cent of the demand for rawhides is met with supplies from different parts of the country but a lack of proper management is leading to difficulties involving storage, said the director in-charge of the standing committee, Shaheen Ahmed.

The government took up the estate project on 200 acres of land in Savar in 2003 to shift tanneries from Hazaribagh.

Primarily, the project cost was fixed at Tk 175 crore and ultimately it went on to cross Tk 1,078 crore in 2016.