The government has taken an initiative to distribute salt free of charge across the country for preserving sacrificial animal hides, similar to last year. Based on district-wise estimates of animal sacrifices in 2025, salt worth BDT 200 million will again be distributed proportionately through salt mill owners. However, recent heavy rainfall has disrupted production, causing salt prices to rise by BDT 60 per maund (calculated at 44 kilograms). Sector insiders fear that the quantity of free salt distribution may decline compared with last year.
In 2025, the government planned to distribute 30,000 tonnes of salt free of charge nationwide. However, as the decision was taken only one month before Eid-ul-Adha, only 11,571 tonnes could eventually be distributed. Including transportation costs, the distributed salt was worth BDT 200 million. The last-minute implementation created administrative difficulties and disrupted Eid holidays for district-level officials and employees. To avoid such complications, the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) began this year’s salt distribution program two months ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
The country’s salt production target for the current season was set at around 2.71 million tonnes. In the season that began in November, approximately 1.76 million tonnes had been collected as of April 30. Production was disrupted after rainfall began on April 26. In addition, delayed rainfall earlier in the season prevented farmers from supplying the expected volume of salt during the first half of the production cycle. The production season is scheduled to continue until May 15. If weather conditions remain favourable, another 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes of salt are expected to be collected.
Due to the shortfall in achieving production targets and sudden rain disrupting production, salt prices have increased within a few days at both the mill and supply levels.
Mohammad Asad Asif, proprietor of Messrs Lal Mia Salt Industries, told Bonik Barta, “Salt production has been disrupted for a week because of rainfall. Production is also still far below the target even in the final stage of the season. Due to the recent adverse weather and the halt in production, salt prices have increased ahead of Eid-ul-Adha. If supply doesn’t improve, disruptions may occur in the supply chain of salt, which is a key raw material for preserving animal hides during the Eid sacrifice season.”
At the beginning of the season, 69,198 acres of land in Chattogram and Cox's Bazar were designated for salt cultivation. A total of 41,355 farmers are involved in production on these lands. Just a week ago, salt was being sold at the field level for BDT 230–240 per maund. Prices have now risen to BDT 255–260. Due to the collapse in production caused by rainfall and the approaching Eid season, salt prices at the marketing and mill levels have increased by BDT 50–60 per maund, reaching around BDT 350. However, farmers at the field level are not benefiting from the price increase, according to BSCIC.
BSCIC awarded contracts for nationwide salt supply at rates ranging from BDT 12,500 to BDT 15,000 per tonne in 2025, including transportation costs. The opportunity was given to 270 registered mill owners across the country. However, many mill owners alleged favouritism in salt allocation among mills at the time. They are consequently now demanding equal distribution this year.
Last year, around 9.13 million animals (9,136,734) were sacrificed across the country. However, animal hides have been wasted in large quantities in recent years due to low market prices. Hides collected by mosques, madrasas, and charitable institutions often deteriorated because of a shortage of salt. BSCIC officials said this is why the government initiated the free salt distribution program.
On April 15 this year, BSCIC requested a list of salt mill owners across the country for the purpose of distributing free salt. In a letter issued by BSCIC Salt Cell chief Sarwar Hossain, instructions were given to distribute free salt nationwide during Eid-ul-Adha only through registered mills with active production. Later, on April 23, Abdul Matin, director of Industry Development and Extension at BSCIC, issued 11 directives, including the formation of district-level monitoring committees for free salt distribution. These initiatives were taken to resolve various issues, including allegations of favouritism in salt allocation to mills in 2025, BSCIC officials said.
Asked about the matter, Sarwar Hossain told Bonik Barta that, as in the previous year, free salt would again be distributed nationwide ahead of Eid-ul-Adha. He said the actual cost of salt increases before Eid because of traffic congestion affecting cargo transport and higher freight charges for goods vehicles. Drawing on past experience, he noted. The government is continuing the free salt distribution initiative through advance preparations to support the country’s important leather industry. He added: “Nationwide salt distribution would help ensure proper preservation of sacrificial animal hides, and BSCIC is working across the country to provide salt to religious and charitable institutions based on prepared lists.”