Narsingdi: Accusations of throwing sacrificial animal skins on the roadside, in the river after not getting a fair price, concerns about the environment

Locals have complained that wholesalers in various areas of Narsingdi are throwing the collected sacrificial animal skins in the Haridhwa, Meghna and Shitalakshya rivers, in various garbage bins and on the roadside due to not getting a fair price for the skins after the Eid. On the one hand, those involved in madrasas and orphanages are facing financial losses, and there is also a fear of river water pollution. Along with this, there is a fear of environmental pollution. According to local sources, the price of skins after Eid is significantly lower than last year. Although cow skin is sold...

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Locals have complained that wholesalers in various areas of Narsingdi are throwing the collected sacrificial animal skins in the Haridhwa, Meghna and Shitalakshya rivers, in various garbage bins and on the roadside due to not getting a fair price for the skins after the Eid.

On the one hand, those involved in madrasas and orphanages are facing financial losses, and there is also a fear of river water pollution. Along with this, there is a fear of environmental pollution.

According to local sources, the price of skins after Eid is significantly lower than last year. Although cow skin is sold for 25-30 taka per square foot and goat skin for 10-15 taka, many wholesalers are choosing to throw away the skins because they are unable to cover the transportation and salt costs.

A resident of Haridhwa area said, “Since the day after Eid, I have seen trolleys full of skins being brought and dumped at the Meghna Ghat. The water is smelling rotten and fish are dying. Another resident of Shitalakshya Par said that the riverbank has been badly smelled due to the skins being dumped in the water.

Environmental rights activists say that if raw skins are dumped in the river, the salt, blood and rotting waste contained in it reduce the oxygen in the water, which is harmful to aquatic animals. An official of the Narsingdi Environment Department said that they are investigating the matter and action will be taken against the culprits under the Environment Protection Act.

However, a section of leather traders say that they have nothing to do as tannery owners do not want to buy the skins at the price fixed by the government. They are forced to throw them away to avoid losses.

Meanwhile, the madrasa and orphanage authorities said that they meet their expenses for the whole year with the money from the sale of skins. They have faced a major financial crisis due to not getting the price.

The administration said that mobile courts will be run to prevent skins being dumped in the river and those involved in this act will be prosecuted.  Legal action will be taken.