Bangladesh outlines action plans for leather industry development

Bangladesh’s Minister for Industries, Commerce and Textiles and Jute, Khandaker Abdul Muktadi, has announced that targeted short and long-term tasks have been determined for the comprehensive development of the country's leather industry. Speaking in Dhaka on Sunday, Muktadi assured that all necessary support, including policy cooperation from the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and the Ministry of Industries, would be provided to implement these measures.

The Minister made the remarks while chairing the ninth meeting of the task force formed to formulate recommendations and an action plan for the leather sector at the ministry’s conference room in Motijheel. The high-level meeting was attended by State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, Industries Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman, Commerce Secretary Abdur Rahman Khan, and BEPZA Executive Director Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain, alongside other task force members.

Emphasizing the government's strategic focus on the sector, Muktadi stated that a disciplined system would be introduced covering the entire supply chain from animal slaughter to leather marketing to ensure no raw hide goes to waste. This systematic overhaul, he added, is expected to transform the leather sector into one of the country's primary sources of income. To achieve this, the minister underlined the urgent need to expand preservation facilities within the industry.

Muktadi further noted that modernizing the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and ensuring strict compliance with international standards remain critical to making the leather industry profitable. Addressing upcoming seasonal pressures, he mentioned that specialized training has been arranged for relevant personnel to properly skin, preserve, and maintain environmental quality during Eid-ul-Adha, when skins are traditionally donated to religious institutions and orphanages.

Following a request from the Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) representative, the task force requested the Financial Institutions Department and Bangladesh Bank to facilitate easy-term bank loans for leather traders. The minister urged the central bank to ensure prompt financial assistance to the sector. Additionally, Muktadi emphasized the necessity of ensuring an uninterrupted power supply to the Savar tannery estate and strengthening overall security measures across the leather industrial city.