In a significant move to bolster leather exports, Salman F Rahman, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Private Industry and Investment, announced that tannery traders would be issued short-term environmental certificates up until Eid-ul-Azha. This temporary measure aims to support the leather industry’s compliance with environmental standards.

During a recent meeting in Hemayetpur, Savar, with officials and stakeholders from the leather sector, Salman underscored the importance of adherence to environmental regulations post-Eid-ul-Azha. He warned that failure to comply would result in the cessation of operations.

The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to balancing industrial growth with environmental sustainability. Salman emphasized the availability of concessions for tanneries preparing to establish Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), highlighting the government’s flexibility in supporting the leather sector’s development without compromising environmental, agricultural, and public health concerns.

Echoing this sentiment, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury reiterated the imperative to prevent environmental pollution in Savar’s tannery zones. He outlined plans to enforce timelines for the establishment of ETPs in factories and announced post-Eid-ul-Azha actions against facilities operating without proper environmental clearance.

Industry leaders and governmental officials, including Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, are working on short and long-term strategies to address challenges within the tannery industry, including the refurbishment of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP).

This collaborative effort among the ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Industries signifies a proactive approach to ensuring the sustainable growth of Bangladesh’s vital leather sector, underlining the government’s recognition of its potential and commitment to its future.