Analysis


Right: A Bangladeshi worker processes raw leather at a factory in the Hazaribagh tannery area in Dhaka


Below: Effluent discharge from Savar Tannery Industrial Estate makes its way into the Dhaleshwari River, putting the river’s existence and biodiversity at stake


owners’ associations – Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather goods and Footwear Exporters’ Association (BFLLFEA) and the Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) – did not jointly appoint at least one leather industry expert to look after the relocation process, with the government instead using those who know nothing about leather. When the BSCIC appointed two civil engineers as consultants for the project, why did the tannery associations keep silent instead of resisting it? Why did they not submit a memorandum to the now disgraced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who had a keen interest in the tannery relocation? Hasina understood the potential of the leather industry to the Bangladesh economy, although she too never criticised or took any action against the BSCIC due to its utter failure to stop environmental pollution or for failing to prepare for an LWG audit.


The present interim government lead by Dr. Muhammad Yunus should conduct a thorough investigation of the incompetence and irresponsible activities of the those involved in the tannery relocation


project. This incident has caused a loss of billions of US dollars to the country’s economy over the past seven years and will be considered as a black chapter in the history of the leather industry in Bangladesh. Yunus should also find a proper solution to this profound problem of the leather industry, with experts now suggesting foreign technical assistance for the following: ■ arrangement of an environmental compliance enhancement course for all leather engineers working in tanneries and other leather graduates to be employed in the future


■ countrywide rawhide and skins preservation training programmes for students from the Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology, University of Dhaka


■ import and installation of filter machines for the recirculation of hair-save unhairing floats to recover animal hair materials in 120 tanneries


■ the adoption of cleaner technology compulsory in all leather processing units in Bangladesh


■ interior modification of tanneries for LWG audit preparation


■ construction of one big cold storage for keeping preserved rawide and skins for every tannery


■ renovation of the existing CETP and the construction of a dumping yard for existing and new solid wastes from tanneries


■ the use of waterless chrome tanning technology, through purchasing a license from the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) in Chennai, India, or the establishment of chrome recovery plants in every tannery


■ allowing tanneries their own effluent treatment plants to reduce the pressure on the CETP – some have already constructed an ETP and chrome recovery unit, plus a small dumping yard. ●


12 Leather International / www.leathermag.com


Sk Hasan Ali/Shutterstock.com


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