Although the deadline for relocation of Hazaribagh tanneries to Savar Tannery Estate expires today, not a single factory has been shifted to the estate as yet. Though the government has been making desperate efforts to shift all the 55 tannery factories from Hazaribagh, not a single unit has completed the relocation to be able to commence production in the new tannery estate in Savar as per the deadline that expires today.As the deadline for shifting the tannery factories from hazardous Hazaribagh is expiring today, the authorities are going to sit tomorrow to set the next course of action for those who failed to meet the deadline.The tannery owners said they need more time to complete the relocation.Sources at Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), a body under the industries ministry, said around 25-30 industries out of 55 leather units have almost finalised their construction work in the planned estate and can go for production in a month while the rest of the industries are still in the process.They said the deadline issued by the industries ministry on January 13 prompted the owners to shift their tannery units from Hazaribagh.Claiming that good progress has been made for shifting the tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar, Project Director Abdul Qaium told daily sun a meeting will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) with Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu to take the next course of action to expedite the relocation.He also said 25-30 units are almost ready and they can fully be prepared within March to go for production.“More than 5,000 workers have been engaged in shifting the units to meet the deadline,” he added.Expressing his satisfaction over the progress in the relocation process, the PD said the government is in a strict position for shifting the tanneries from Hazaribagh. Demo of Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is running now and ready for the final move.However, tannery owners said they are getting ready and it take little more time to fully shift their units, but they could not indicate any timeframe.Abu Taher, former President of Bangladesh Finished Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association, also chairman of Ruma Leather Industry, said the relocation drive has made good progress.“The industries owners are trying their best to shift their units in the planned estate in Savar as per the ministry’s deadline,” he claimed.Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu gave a 72-hour deadline to the tannery owners on January 10 and the authorities have issued notice to 142 tannery owners to shift their factories as per the deadline. The ministry later came up with a new deadline till February last which is going to end today.In the meantime, the government has prepared two CETP modules in the planned leather estate.
