JASHORE, JUNE 09 (V7N)– Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin today strongly criticized the "huge anarchy" he said had plagued Bangladesh's leather sector over the past 15 years under the previous regime, leading to a significant decline. Speaking to journalists after inspecting rawhide management activities at Rajarhat in Jashore, a major trading hub, Bashir Uddin affirmed the interim government's commitment to dismantling the syndicates that had taken root in the industry.

"But, the interim government has been working to dismantle the syndicate in this sector that had grown over the years," Bashir Uddin stated, emphasizing the government's resolve to bring order and fairness to the vital sector.

The Commerce Adviser underscored that the initial priority for the interim government is to safeguard the rights of orphanages and madrasahs by ensuring they receive a fair price for rawhides, particularly ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. "Alongside this, we're also taking steps considering the overall future and interest of the country's leather sector," he added, indicating a broader strategy for long-term growth.

Bashir Uddin highlighted that the government is actively working nationwide to dismantle the entrenched syndicates in the leather sector as part of its efforts to rejuvenate the industry. He also mentioned that he is personally visiting various parts of the country, and a dedicated control room is operational to monitor the situation.

To ensure fair prices for rawhides, the government has implemented several key measures. These include providing approximately 750,000 maunds of salt for proper preservation of rawhides and disbursing Taka 220 crore (approximately $18.7 million USD) to tannery owners ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to enhance their operational capacity.

Bashir Uddin asserted that the steps taken by the interim government in the leather sector are "unprecedented" and expressed confidence that achieving the desired goals would be possible through "concerted efforts from all."

Jashore Deputy Commissioner Azhar Islam and Superintendent of Police Rownak Jahan were present during the Commerce Adviser's visit.

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