Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin on Tuesday said initiatives are being taken to export leather not only to India and China but also to Europe.

After visiting the temporary storage facility for sacrificial animal skins at the Jamil Madrasa in Bogura town on Tuesday (June 10) afternoon, the adviser shared this with journalists.

“A balanced structure has been created in the leather market system by distributing salt free of charge to madrasas. The interim government has taken such a step for the first time in the country`s history. Its benefits will be available from next year,” he said.

The adviser contradicted reports that rawhide prices seeing a downward trend. “The fact that the price of leather is getting low is not right. The government has fixed the price of salted leather. In that case, the price of salted leather will be higher than the fixed price.”

Under the instructions of the Chief Adviser, for the first time in the country, seven and a half lakh maunds of salt have been distributed free of charge to mosques, madrasas and orphanages to ensure the stability in the leather market, he said.

The elected government will be more motivated to realise the rights of madrasas and orphanages by utilizing the experience of the interim government, he expected.

Sheikh Bashir said the total leather of the country is not worth more than Tk 600 to 700 crore.

At this time, Bogrua Deputy Commissioner Hosna Afroza, District Police Superintendent Zedan Al Musa and BSCIC officials were present.