Dhaka, March 5 -- PABNA, Mar 04: Widespread attack of 'panama disease' on the banana trees has shuttered dreams of the farmers in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district in the current season.

Sources said banana trees on several hundred hectares of land in the upazila have been affected by the viral disease.

The farmers are upset as several thousand banana trees died before their eyes for the disease causing heavy losses to them.

According to the Ishwardi upazila agriculture office, 1,840 hectares of land have been brought under banana farming in the upazila this season.

Of the total, banana trees have been planted on 1,800 hectares of land in Laxmikunda union alone.

After receiving windfall profit from banana plantations in recent years...