From: Sayed Mofidul Haque

Correspondent Rangpur

Our Correspondent

RANGPUR, 17: Hide business in Rangpur district is facing acute crisis of

capital as a result hide traders are being compelled to forsake their business.

According to sources a total 150 hide traders of the district have already closed
their business due to lack of capital resulting 6,000 workers engaged in this
trade became jobless.

While visiting Shapla chattar chamra potti area of Rangpur sadar most of the
hide godowns were found closed while some were found as showrooms of auto
bike and electronic goods.

Leaders of District Hide Traders’ Association of Rangpur have said there were
200 hide traders in Rangpur and out of them 150 traders have already left their
business and others are passing days in anxiety.

They also alleged that a total Tk 25 crores of due lying in the hand of the
tannery owners and whole sellers of Dhaka and Natore which seems to be
impossible for them to recover due to reluctance of the traders of those districts.

On the other hand there is no easy bank loan facility available for their business
so they are in acute financial problem.

Abul kashem (55) a hide trader of Rangpur sadar said that he had been running
his business for 30 years but he never got any loan from bank. Moreover about
Tk. 50 lakh of arrears which he could not recover from the tannery owners of
Dhaka and Natore. Finding no other way he was bound to leave the business
and started another business.

President of District hide traders association Rangpur Abdul latif khan has said
they have to borrow the required money for their business at high rate of interest
due to absence of easy bank loan. Moreover, many hide traders have lost their
interest in this business because of uncertainty in recovering arrears.

He apprehended that if they are not able to recover the arrears before Eid-ul-
Azha the trade will incur huge loss and consequently syndicate of smugglers
will take the advantage, he added.
Our Correspondent

RANGPUR, 17: Grape cultivation is gradually gaining popularity in the

northern districts. Grape growers are earning handsomely by selling their
produces. According to the agriculturalists the soil and climate of Rangpur,
Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Nilphamari districts are suitable for grape
cultivation.

The local growers say that proper training and other financial and technical
assistance can pave the way for large scale commercial production of grapes
across the northern region.

It would be financially beneficial to the farmers if they could cultivate grape of

commercial basis, they added.

At present grape are the cultivated only by a limited number of people of both
gender due to non availability of required seeds and other facilities.

A grower told that he had been cultivating grapes in his home for a couple of
years and selling them at a good price.

Growers say much of the grapes now produced in the areas belong to the
moderate grade variety called “jatka” they also cultivate a number of high grade
varieties like black rubi, cardinal, pearl, blue variety etc.

This local varieties are comparatively sweeter in taste than the imported ones,
they claimed.