From Sacrifice to Sustainability: The Story of Bangladesh’s Post-Eid-ul-Adha Tannery Business

Each year, as the festive air of Eid-ul-Adha fills the streets of Dhaka, Chattogram, and every corner of Bangladesh, another story quietly begins in the backdrop—one not about prayer mats or family gatherings, but about skins, leather, and livelihoods. This is the story of Bangladesh's tannery industry, which comes to life in the days following the Islamic festival of sacrifice, where the hides of millions of animals transform from religious offerings to an economic engine.

The Festival of Sacrifice—and Economic Opportunity

Eid-ul-Adha, also known as Qurbani Eid, is one of the most significant religious festivals in Islam. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. In Bangladesh, like many Muslim-majority nations, this spiritual devotion is symbolised by the sacrifice of animals—mainly cows, goats, and to a lesser extent, camels or buffaloes.

According to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), around 10-12 million animals are sacrificed annually in Bangladesh during Eid-ul-Adha, generating approximately 100–120 million square feet of raw hides and skins (DLS, 2023). These hides are not just waste or byproducts—they represent a massive seasonal boom for the country’s leather industry, one of its most important export sectors.

Why Tannery Work Peaks After Eid in Bangladesh

The post-Eid-ul-Adha period represents a golden window for leather traders, tannery owners, transporters, and factory workers. In just 4–5 days, we collect about 50–60% of the raw hides processed annually (Export Promotion Bureau, 2023).

Here's what makes this time unique:

• Volume: The sudden influx of raw materials creates a concentrated supply chain spike.

• Speed: If hides are not preserved quickly (usually within 6–8 hours), they begin to decompose.

• Demand: Exporters and local factories rush to secure quality hides, which form the base of Bangladesh’s leather goods industry.

  
  

The Tannery Ecosystem: From Backyard to B2B

On Eid day, the process begins in households, mosques, and open grounds. But within hours, thousands of small traders, volunteers, and NGO workers start collecting hides—sometimes buying them for a token price, other times receiving them as donations.

They are then:

1. Salted for preservation (with 30–40% salt of the hide’s weight),

2. Transported to warehouses or processing centres (often in Hazaribagh or Savar),

3. The tannery owners purchase the hides based on factors such as size, thickness, and quality.

In recent years, Savar Tannery Industrial Estate (STIE) has replaced Hazaribagh as the primary tanning hub, mainly due to environmental concerns and Court mandates. STIE currently houses over 150 tanneries.

Human Stories Behind the Skins

Abdul Hamid, a 43-year-old seasonal hide trader from Kushtia, waits all year for these three days. “I earn 70% of my annual income in just one Eid week,” he says. He starts visiting sacrificial grounds from dawn, offering Tk 500–1000 to buy hides, and then resells them to intermediaries in Dhaka.

On the other side, 19-year-old Salma Begum works in one of the Savar tanneries. “It’s tough work. We stand in salty water all day, our hands burn,” she says. But the post-Eid rush means overtime, which helps her save for her younger brother’s school fees.

For them—and hundreds like them—Eid-ul-Adha is not just a religious observance; it’s their livelihood.

Market Value and Contribution to the Economy from Tannery Business

The leather and leather goods sector contributes approximately 3–4% of Bangladesh’s total export earnings, making it the second-largest export-earning sector after readymade garments (Bangladesh Tanners Association, 2023).

In FY 2022–2023:

• Leather exports: $174 million

• Leather goods exports (shoes, bags, belts): $1.12 billion

• Total sector export earnings: $1.3 billion

Post-Eid hides, especially cow hides, are the raw material for most of these products. Export destinations include Italy, China, Vietnam, Germany, and the USA.

Post-Eid Challenges: The Dark Side of the Boom

Despite the economic boom, several challenges continue to plague the post-Eid tannery ecosystem:

1. Price Instability

In 2023, the government fixed cowhide prices at Tk 55–60 per square foot in Dhaka and Tk 50–55 per square foot outside Dhaka. However, many sellers received far less knowledge due to manipulation by intermediaries or market oversaturation.

2. Lack of Preservation Awareness

In rural areas, many individuals still do not know the proper methods for salting hides. Poor preservation results in 20–30% waste annually, particularly in hot and humid conditions.

3. Environmental Hazards

Despite moving tanneries to Savar with a promise of eco-friendliness, the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) still doesn’t operate at full capacity. Untreated chemicals often end up in the Dhaleshwari River, endangering biodiversity and public health.

4. Worker Exploitation

Leather factory workers frequently face unsafe working conditions, low wages, and exposure to hazardous chemicals, including chromium. A 2022 study by the Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE) found that 62% of tannery workers lacked protective gear.

Innovation and Sustainability: A New Hope?

Fortunately, several initiatives are trying to change the tannery landscape:

• Leather Working Group (LWG) certification is being encouraged to ensure environmental compliance for export markets.

• UNIDO has supported training for eco-friendly tanning and worker safety.

• Startups like Bark & Bond and social enterprises like Leatherina are focusing on sustainable, traceable leather goods for global consumers.

• Digital marketplaces are also emerging, helping rural hide collectors get better prices through real-time bidding apps.

  
  

The Role of Religious Institutions and NGOs

Every year, major Islamic charities, such as the Baitul Mukarram Mosque Committee, Anjuman Mufidul Islam, and BRAC, collect tens of thousands of hides as Qurbani donations. These hides are then sold to fund orphanages, schools, and welfare programs.

During Eid-ul-Adha 2023, Anjuman Mufidul Islam alone collected over 160,000 hides, generating nearly Tk 90 million in revenue for social causes.

The COVID Hangover and Recovery

The pandemic severely disrupted the leather supply chain from 2020 to 2022. Export orders dropped, factory operations halted, and unsold inventories piled up. Many traders faced bankruptcy.

But 2023 and 2024 have seen a strong rebound. According to the Bangladesh Leather Exporters Association (BLEA), leather exports increased by 16.5% in FY 2023, driven by post-COVID demand for high-quality leather in global markets.

What the Future Holds

To make the most of the post-Eid boom, experts suggest:

• Experts recommend improving preservation training in rural areas, primarily through union councils and agricultural offices.

• Experts recommend using mobile salting units and chilling vans to mitigate potential damage.

• Real-time pricing dashboards are implemented to prevent intermediaries from exploiting the situation.

• Savar has full CETP functionality to comply with international environmental standards.

• We are offering incentives to certified green tanneries to attract high-end European buyers.

  
  

Final Thoughts: A Festival, A Factory, A Future

The story of the post-Eid-ul-Adha tannery business in Bangladesh is layered and compelling. It starts in prayer and ends in polish—moving from a sacrificial act to global runways. But at its heart are human stories: a father paying off debt with hide sales, a factory girl hoping for overtime pay, a village trader risking it all for three days of profit.

If Bangladesh can address the ethical, environmental, and economic bottlenecks in its leather supply chain, this seasonal boom can turn into a year-round blessing. Eid-ul-Adha, then, becomes more than a sacrifice—it becomes sustainability.

Key Stats at a Glance:

Metric	2023 Figures
Animals sacrificed	11 million+
Hides collected	100–120 million sq. ft.
% of annual hide collection	50–60% in 5 days
Leather exports (FY 23)	$1.3 billion
Tanneries at Savar	150+
% Workers without PPE	62%
Qurbani hides donated (Anjuman)	160,000+

References

1. Department of Livestock Services (2023). Annual Qurbani Report. [Bangladesh Government Portal]

2. Bangladesh Tanners Association (2023). Leather Industry Outlook 2023.

3. Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh (2023). Export Summary Report FY2023.

4. Bangladesh Leather Exporters Association (2024). Leather Export Growth Analysis.

5. OSHE Foundation (2022). Occupational Safety Survey in the Leather Sector.

6. UNIDO Bangladesh (2023). Eco-Tanning Practices Report.

7. The Daily Star (July 2023). Tannery Waste in Dhaleshwari River.

8. BRAC (2023). Qurbani Fund Utilisation Report.

9. Prothom Alo (2023). Hide Price Manipulation and Trader Hardship During Eid.

10. Leather Working Group (2024). Global Leather Certification Updates.