Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir stated that Bangladesh’s leather industry is being developed into a billion-dollar export sector. Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the National Science and Technology Week and Science Fair in Sylhet on Friday, he said the government has identified weaknesses in the sector and initiated measures to address them.

The minister acknowledged concerns about the low prices of raw hides and said that frustration over unfair pricing has led to various criticisms. He noted that the current government is only two and a half months old, making it difficult to solve structural problems in such a short time. However, multiple meetings have been held with stakeholders to begin resolving the sector’s challenges.

Muktadir described leather as a valuable national resource and emphasized that wasting it would mean losing blessings. He said the government is pursuing long-term plans to transform the leather industry into a major contributor to the national economy.