DHAKA, Sept 23, 2021 (BSS) - Speakers at a meeting today proposed to set up a 'Leather Industry Authority' under the Industries Ministry in order to develop the leather industry and solve the existing problems in the sector. 
 
    The proposal was come at the 4th meeting of the 'Task Force on Recommendation for Development of Leather Industry and Formulation of Action Plan' at the Industries Ministry conference room in the city, said a press release.  
 
    Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun presided over the meeting while Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin, State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana, among others, were present.  
 
    Mentioning that leather industry is a big industry and Bangladesh should find new markets abroad, he urged the leather traders to enhance their efforts to expand their business. 
 
    He informed that the government will provide necesary supports in this regard.  
 
    Although the tannery factories have been shifted from Hazaribagh to the unfinished leather industrial city, he said, work of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and other components are not yet completed. 
 
    In this situation, environmental clearance has been issued in favor of some tanneries, but now it is being delayed to renew the environmental clearance, he added.  
 
     Due to delay in obtaining renewal of environmental clearance, he said, it is becoming difficult to get Export Registration Certificate (ERC) as an exporter, Import Registration Certificate (IRC) as an importer and clearance of duty free bond facility. 
 
     In this context, the Industries Minister said, "We are not in favor of closing the tannery industrial city. We have the raw materials, we have the manpower, we have the experience. Therefore, in the interest of smooth production activities of leather factories in the industrial city, it is necessary to expedite the renewal of environmental clearances, implement CETP, apply modern technology as well as manage solid waste properly." 
 
    Md Shahab Uddin joined the meeting virtually and said that although Savar has the capacity to treat 25,000 cubic meters of liquid waste, it is producing 35,000-40,000 cubic meters of liquid waste.  
 
     "This is polluting the river water. We have to visit the spot together," he added.