Bangladeshi tannery relocations run at slow pace
Tannery relocations from Dhaka's Hazaribagh area to the Savar Tannery Estate are not progressing as efficiently as they should be. The process started around ten years ago, but as yet no tanneries have been relocated.
Some parties are blaming the government, while others are holding the tanners themselves responsible. The consequences could be significant, however, as the EU has warned that if tanneries are not relocated by 2014, its member companies would stop importing leather from Bangladesh.
Despite the delay, government officials remain hopeful that the move will go ahead. "We hope to complete the infrastructure development by 2016 and seek cooperation of the owners in relocating their units to the new site," said industries minister Dilip Barua.
President of the Bangladesh Tanners Association and Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters' Association (BFLLGFEA), Belal Hossain, told the Financial Express: "The government is not also cooperating. However, we are preparing to move there and tannery owners very soon will start submitting their plans and complete other processes before the relocation.”
There have been complaints from tanners that the new plots are too small and that they require double the space that is currently available. Around 20 tanneries are believed to have applied for expanded plots.
