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Feni, June 7, 2025 : In Parshuram, Feni, the trade of Qurbani animal hides has once again left locals in distress, with hides being sold at extremely low prices, often described as "the price of water." According to reports, cow hides are fetching a maximum of Tk 300, while goat hides are being sold for as little as Tk 30, causing widespread frustration among seasonal traders and depriving the underprivileged who rely on these sales.
Selim Sarker, a senior member of the Parshuram Upazila BNP, informed that in most areas of the upazila, cow hides are being sold at a maximum of Tk 300. In some cases, smaller cow hides are going for just Tk 100. The collapse in the hide market has significantly impacted those who depend on this seasonal trade.
Abdul Khaleq from Satyanagar village shared that he performed Qurbani with a cow purchased for Tk 1.8 lakh, but its hide was sold for only Tk 200. Similarly, in the Boxmahmud area, Samsul Alam noted that, like last year, no buyers came for hides, forcing locals to donate them to nearby madrasas. Reports from the area indicate that hides were sold at a maximum of Tk 300.
Saiful Islam from Chithlia Union reported that hides in various parts of the union were sold for up to Tk 350. He himself sold the hide of a cow, bought for Tk 81,000, for just Tk 250. Tahidul Islam, a prominent hide trader in Parshuram, revealed that he purchased around 400 hides at prices ranging from Tk 100 to Tk 300 each. He highlighted that additional costs for labor and transportation, including salting the hides, increase the overall expenses, further squeezing profit margins.
The government has set a minimum price of Tk 1,150 for salted hides outside Dhaka this Qurbani season, with larger hides expected to fetch higher prices. However, raw (unsalted) hides, typically sold immediately after Qurbani, do not have a fixed price and are subject to negotiation between buyers and sellers.
Nurul Alam, a Sub-Inspector of Bangladesh Police and a resident of Satyanagar, sold his Qurbani cow hide for Tk 150. He emphasized that every year, people face difficulties selling hides, often receiving negligible prices. In the past, many have resorted to donating hides to nearby orphanages due to the lack of fair offers.
Lieutenant Colonel Mosharaf Hossain, the commander of 4-BGB (Feni) Battalion, assured Kalabela that the Border Guard Bangladesh is maintaining strict vigilance to prevent the smuggling of Qurbani hides to India. Regular patrols and intelligence activities have been intensified along the border to curb illegal activities.
The plummeting prices of Qurbani hides continue to spark discontent, with calls for better regulation and fair pricing to support those dependent on this seasonal trade.
AI/MR
