JHENIDAH. Mar 2 : Shimul, a traditional tree of Bangladesh, which supplies cotton. has been declining day by day.

A few years back each and every well-to-do farmers had at least two shimul trees in their houses. The trees could meet their family's annual demand of cotton for making quilt, pillow. matress and other belongings. The red or light orange colour flowers of snimul appears between the Bengali month of Magh and Falgoon. Shimul flowers in Falgoon declare the advent of spring.

In the early morning children in the rural areas usually leave their beds to collect shimul flowers. Varieties of birds can be visible on Shimul trees. The environment becomes lively at this time. Just after the fall of ripe flowers, the seeds of Shimul become matured between the Bangla months of late Falgoon and early Chaitra. Then white cotton can be available from these Shimul trees.

When the owners of Shimul trees collect cotton from their trees. many villagers

.especially poor children rush their arid collect cotton to meet up the needs during the winter

But we are missing such scenes now in the remote villages. Shimul trees have been declining very fast. The farmers are cutting down these trees indiscriminately for the purpose of IRRI-Boro farming. Moreover. the jungles of rural areas are being vanished very fast for construction work and other purposes. Everyday a number of Shimul trees are being cut down as these are used as raw materials in match factories, fuel woods in brickfields and for many other domestic purposes.

In the remote villages Shimul trees are being fallen rampantly due to its cheaper price.

As a result people, especially the poorer section of the society are being deprived of cheaper cotton. It has become a threat to environment also. De-’"paftment of Agriculture (DAE) i_«»h-ces. said.

Govggnment should take the initiative to save Shimul trees from extinction, responsible citizens opined.