The Crime Desk: Chittagong’s tannery industry has no air On the one hand, 21 factories in the tannery industry have been closed in Chittagong in the last year due to the monitoring of the UK-based international committee for the implementation of green regulations, or “green compliance,” as well as the obligation of the country’s environment department to strictly observe the regulations of the environment protection law. As a result, known as the backward linkage of this industry, the seasonal business of leather has been severely hit during various festivals, including Eid, the related sources said.
The officials of the Department of Environment told the media that currently the only tannery industry in Chittagong, named Reef Leather Limited, is surviving in Kalurghat by implementing all the regulations and green compliance of the Department of Environment. The company is also exporting processed leather.
Hillol Biswas, Director of Environment Department Chittagong Metro Region, told the media that there is no room for laxity in the implementation of all Environmental Protection Act regulations, including the installation of an effluent treatment plant (ETP) in the tannery industry.Provisions are being made to file compensation cases and collect compensation for environmental pollution from those who violate the regulations. As a result, the International Leather Working Group Certificate and annual clearance from the concerned area’s Department of Environment are required.All these various tannery industrial establishments in Chittagong have closed by themselves without being able to implement compliance. Currently, no tannery will be approved without implementing compliance.
Mukhlesur Rahman, director of Tannery Reef Leather Limited at Kalurghat in the city, told the media that their company implemented ETP in 2016. Last December, the UK-based International Committee Leather Working Group visited their factory. The committee awarded the leather working group certificate to the factory last February. After two years, the audit group of this committee came to visit the factory on site. Tannery industries cannot function without this certification.On the other hand, the international committee also wants to see the annual clearance of the local environment department. The international working group also wants to see all facilities that meet international standards, including health facilities and management in tanneries. As a result, it becomes very difficult for any tannery industry or factory to implement them. He said Reef Leather collects raw hides and transforms them into tanned leather or finished products. Last year, they exported 50 lakh square feet of leather.It is hoped that their exports will increase further in the coming years.
Mukhlesur Rahman said that the implementation of ETP in a tannery currently requires at least Tk 3 crore to Tk 4 crore. Another ETP requires at least 3 to 4.5 thousand square feet of land. As a result, the entrepreneurs of the general tannery industry have folded their hands after seeing this obstacle.
Mia Mahmudul Haque, Deputy Director of the Chittagong Metro Region of the Department of Environment, told the media that another large tannery factory in Chittagong, Madina Tannery, was closed in 2018 due to severe environmental pollution.
The leaders of the Chittagong tannery association said that after the 2018 closure of the Madina Tannery, the tannery trade in Chittagong suddenly collapsed. because this company used to buy 50 percent leather from Chittagong every year during Qurbani Eid.
Mukhlesur Rahman, director of Reef Leather Limited, said that although Madina does not process leather now, they run a shoe factory.
