The government has decided to extend the deadline for shifting tannery units from hazardous Hazaribagh area to the planned Tannery Industrial Estate at Savar. Though the government gave a 72-hour deadline, but in a fresh move on Wednesday it has decided to extend the deadline up to the end of February. As per the new decision, the tanners have to relocate their factories within February 2016. Sources said that the new decision came up from a Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) steering committee meeting held at Industries ministry on Wednesday with Industries Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan in the chair. “Considering the reality and request of the tannery owners, we have fixed the new deadline. Every tannery unit has to shift factories by February”, Project Director for tannery industrial estate Abdul Qaium told daily sun. He also said that the government is on a hard line this time. There will be nothing to do after this deadline. “We have issued notices to 142 tannery owners till now and closely observing their activities. Some factory owners are still showing negligence in augmenting their shifting work while most of the tanners are trying their level best to shift”, he said. Urging the tanners to be cordial this time, Abdul Qaium said, “It’s my humble request to all the tanners that they will respect the government decision. Otherwise, government will not be responsible for any hard decision taken against the defaulters.” Meeting sources said that the new deadline has come with the consent of Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu.
