Unknown virus causes death to lebbeck trees at Dumuria

DUMURIA, KHULNA, Dec 17: After being affected by an unknown virus, lebbeck trees, locally called Shirish trees, are dying in Dumuria Upazila of the district.

Thousands of trees are dying in the upazila. There are lakhs of lebbeck trees in 14 unions of the upazila. In the last one month, about 80,000 trees died.  The remaining trees are apprehended to die soon.

In this situation, locals drew the attention of the authorities concerned for indentifying the virus.
A local Yunus Ali of Ranai Village at Khornia Union said, "There are about  200 small and big Shirish (lebbeck) trees in my garden. About 60 of these have been affected by the virus."

Firstly, the viruses are seen whitish on tree branches, and then insects take births. Within 15-20 days, they suck branch water, causing leaf drop and tree drying. He has already sold about 40 trees at cheaper prices.

Another  Raj  Ali  Biswas said, "Firstly, one of my trees was affected, and then 10 more  ones were affected."
Trees of Julfikar, Rahmat and Raju were also affected.

Timber traders Amirul Islam, Abdul Jabbar, and Azibor Rahman said, "We can sell the virus affected trees purchased from upazilas Shovna, Sahas, Magurghona , and Atlia Gutudia unions."

In these unions, about 80 per cent trees have been affected, they added.

They further said, "We are counting losses."

Local men, women, teenagers and children are going out every morning in search of virus insects of Shirish trees.  They are selling per kilogram insects at Tk 250-300 to local traders.

Nobody can tell where these insects are sent to. But it was learnt, these are taken to Khulna and Dhaka for manufacturing medicines.

Many engaged in the trading said, local traders are purchasing insects from several spots including Kopilmunir Nasirpur, Rezakpur, and Kazimusa, and later on, these are sent to respective destinations under their responsibility.

At first, insects were selling at Tk 500-1,000 per kg. Now the price has decreased due to increased supply.

Khornia Union Chairman Sheikh Didar Hossain said, "I heard news of sale of branches of virus affected road Shirish trees in different areas. If insect attacks are not tackled, within one year all trees will disappear, threatening the environment."

Dumuria Upazila Forest Officer said, this insect attack on Shirish trees has been continuing for the last one year. But it has been turned into epidemic in the last one month, he added.

"We sent sample of toadstool to Khulna University. But they didn give us any result. Authorities have been informed," he added.