DUMURIA, KHULNA, Jan 11: This winter, date juice extractors' busyness is not much seen in Dumuria Upazila of the district.
Locals are not getting adequate fresh juice supply in the upazila. Date molasses is also not available.
People blamed damaging and cutting of date trees for fuel in brickfields.
Mohtamim of Sajiarashamsul Ulum Madrasa Mawlana Mostaq Ahmed of Gutudia Village in the upazila and Dumuria Upazila Awami League Vice-President Sardar Abu Sayed Ahmmed said, "When we were youths, we would get fresh juice in the morning. Now it has been tough to get juice."
Date juice collection starts Ashwin and it continues till Poush-Magh.
A teacher of Sajiarashamsul Ulum Madrasa Mawlana Abdul Gaffar said, "We no longer see extractors with date juice pots on shoulders. This tradition is missing."
He blamed brickfields for damaging date trees.
A visit to several areas in the upazila found very few numbers of date trees. Some tree owners said, it is difficult for extractors to survive by selling date juice and molasses; that is why, they hold no interest in it.
A molasses trader in the upazila Bishob said, date juice molasses is no longer available like before.
