The document discusses the impact of tannery industries in Bangladesh on the environment. It notes that the first tannery was established in the 1940s and that currently there are about 170 tannery units. Tanneries transform raw hides and skins into leather, but generate significant pollution from liquid and solid wastes unless treated. They affect the environment and nearby communities. A report found that tannery workers and over 500,000 residents are at risk of illness from chemical pollution from tanneries located near densely populated areas. This led to changing stakeholder expectations and political and government actions to regulate the industries and reduce their environmental impact.