If Bangladeshi tanneries managed to achieve international standards, they would become one of the most important international players in the leather industry. Such is the firm opinion of Professor M Abu Eusuf, from University of Dhaka, and Abul Kalam Azad, president of the Tannery Workers Union: the two of them, who are experts in this industry, illustrated the big potential of Bangladeshi tanneries during the National Industrial Fair. As reported by thedailystar.net, Professor Eusuf cleared up that China is driving its own leather goods and footwear manufacturing towards higher segments: “that implies a good business opportunity for other countries, such as Bangladesh, but we must fully meet the market demand”. In Azad’s opinion, the industry “has a huge potential that might bring to much more remarkable figures in terms of exports”, as long as they comply with higher standards. Yet, in contrast to such important prospective development, the current modus operandi of a few manufacturers is not that appropriate apparently. In fact, as reported by neagebd.net information website, some tanneries, located in the district of Savar, allegedly keep discharging sewage, prior to treatment, into the river Dhaleswari. “Authorities have been overlooking our continuous complaints”, pointed out, while speaking to the online newspaper, someone who resides in the village near the industrial area. Many others made the same comments during a public meeting, arranged by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer Association, which took place in Savar last week. Abdul Gani, the mayor of Savar, also gave a speech during the meeting: he supposedly claimed, “Government has drawn up a list of 65 companies that work by the river, but there would be 665 of them actually”.
Bangladesh leather industry makes a plea: “We need standards to take up space set free by China”. Savar is a case though
