Over 200 rawhide traders in the district are going to lose their interest in the business as they have not got their due of last year yet. According to sources, Ramnagar is the second largest market for rawhide business in the district where the traders from Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Nilphamamri come to run the business. More than 200 traders bought the rawhide of Tk2 crore from the people during the Edul-az-Ha every year and later it was supplied to tannery industries in Dhaka. The tannery industry owners have not paid the money to the businessmen of last year yet. As a result, they have to pass the days in tension whether they cannot run their business. According to the sources of Rawhide Traders’ Association, the businessmen in the district have been passing days in uncertainty whether they are not able to run their business this year as they have not got their last year’s due. The tannery industry owners also said that they had to face a critical situation as they could not run the business due to political turmoil. Manjur, a rawhide trader said: “I have contacted with the industry owner but I have not got good response.” “If I do not get my money soon, I will not be able do business this year as the Eid near to the door,” he said. Shariful Islam, publicity secretary to the association alleged that the tannery owners got benefits from the government but they did not pay the due of the businessmen. Due to their negligence, the businessmen would have to suffer much this year, he added. Akter Aziz, general secretary to the association, said the business is going to be hampered seriously as the tannery owners neglect the demand of the businessmen. The owners should pay the due Tk15 crore to the businessmen immediately so that they can run their business, he added. The government should take steps to save the business, he also said.
