Staff Correspondent

Traders met their target of collecting one lakh pieces of rawhides at the capital's Posta on Tuesday -- a day ahead of schedule -- due to adequate preparations for preserving hides and favourable weather conditions.

During a visit to the spot in Lalbagh area, reporters witnessed limited activities as most of the work was already done. Majority of the rawhides from Dhaka were most likely already sourced and salted, according to traders.

Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association President Aftab Khan told reporters on Tuesday that the target was 80% achieved on the first day of Eid -- Monday -- and was fulfilled on Tuesday.

Unlike in many previous years, traders successfully avoided rawhide rotting this Eid and as a result many could sell the hides at an even better rate to the traders at Posta on Tuesday, Aftab said.

Traders prepared early this year stockpiling enough amounts of salt for preservation purposes and securing adequate storage space in nearby areas.

Much of the 80,000 pieces of rawhides were salted on Monday night alone, Afteb informed reporters.

"We have managed to collect rawhides of most of the animals slaughtered in Dhaka, thanks to adequate preservation measures," Aftab told reporters.

Ahead of Eid, traders were worried over the availability of space for storing and salting rawhides, as many businessmen have left the business.

The space crisis prompted business leaders to ask the government for allowing the use of vacated tanneries in Hazaribagh area.

The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) approved the request, paving the way for salting rawhides at the earliest possible time at nearby spots. Notably, Hazaribagh is adjacent to Lalbagh area, where Posta is located.