Post-relocation Scenario of Bangladesh Tannery and Management Strategies towards Sustainable Development

Abstract

The tannery industry is a remarkable industry in Bangladesh and it is considered as the second largest export sector of our country. As the oldest and dominant industry it plays a critical role in creating employment and contributing to the country’s economy by export earnings. However, this industry also has a significant impact on the environment, due to high levels of air, water, and soil pollution, leading to environmental degradation and human health hazards particularly in the locality. Although there have been efforts to  relocate the tanneries in order to minimize the environmental challenges, the current scenario calls for more action in this regards. The main objective of this study is to overview the present tannery layout by DPSIR framework (Driving Forces-Pressures-StateImpacts-Responses) and recommend management strategies towards sustainable development. A qualitative study was carried out among the government officials, the tannery related businessman, the tannery owners and the tannery workers from 30 randomly selected tanneries to reveal the specific characteristics and to fit the DPSIR framework. The result indicates that the current conditions are not significantly better than before the relocation. The reason is the unwillingness to follow the existing governmental rules and regulations and response systems. Some relevant planning is also absent to manage the critical situations. Finally, this study
suggests a number of strategies in light of respondent’s experience towards sustainable development of the greatest tannery industry.