, May 5 -- Bangladesh Bank has relaxed conditions to avail new loans for raw hide traders ahead of Eid ul Azha, allowing them to access funds without having to clear their previous arrears.

The central bank issued a circular to this effect on Tuesday (May 5), prioritizing liquidity flow into the market before the festival, which accounts for the vast majority of the principal input (raw hide) for the export-oriented leather industry.

According to the new decision, the requirement for hide traders with rescheduled loans to pay a specific portion of their outstanding dues before availing fresh financing has been temporarily waived, specifically to facilitate the purchase of raw hides during the upcoming festive season.

The circular empha...