A farmer named Hossain Bepari (50) died after being bitten by a venomous Russell’s viper in a remote pasture of North Channel Union in Faridpur Sadar. He was bitten by the snake on Thursday afternoon. He died at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital in Faridpur at around 11:00 today on Friday. Apart from this, two Russell’s vipers were found and beaten to death by the villagers in Char Union of nearby decree.
Hossain Bepari, who died after being bitten by Russell’s viper, is the son of Paresh Ullah Bepari of Ward No. 2 of North Channel Union of Upazila. Helal Uddin, a former UP member of that ward, said that Hossain Babari was bitten by a Russell’s viper yesterday around noon. He was quickly taken to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital in Faridpur across the Padma river in a trawler. As the condition did not improve, preparations were underway to take him to Dhaka. Before that, he died around 11 o’clock today.
Meanwhile, a farmer named Murad Molla (45) saw a Russell’s viper while working at Chardholai in North Channel Union at around 12 noon today. He is a resident of Dangi village of Aiz Uddin Matubbar in Char Union of Dikr. Later he beat the snake and brought it to C&B Ghat area.
Murad Molla said, ‘The snake was noticed while working in the almond field. Then I brought a stick and hit three or four houses to kill the snake.’
Apart from this, the information of killing another Russell’s viper in the same union was confirmed by the decree’s Char UP Chairman Mehdi Hasan. He said, yesterday afternoon in the C&B ghat area of the Union, the locals saw a Russell’s Viper on the side of the Padma river and beat it up.
Changes in award announcements face criticism
District Awami League General Secretary Md. Shah yesterday. In a preparatory meeting on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the Ishtiaq team, Russell mentioned the concern of the people of the grazing area about the viper infestation and announced the prize for killing the viper. He said, if anyone can kill a Russell’s Viper, he will be paid 50,000 taka. As many snakes are killed, this reward will be given.
The announcement of the District Awami League General Secretary was a clear violation of the Wildlife Conservation and Safety Act enacted in 2012. In that law, killing any reptile (snake) is a punishable offence.
Shah Md. Ishtiaq changed his position and told Prothom Alo this afternoon that when he made the announcement, he was not aware of the relevant law. Apart from that, it was not an open public meeting, it was a domestic meeting of the District Awami League Executive Committee. However, an embarrassing situation has arisen as this issue has gone viral on social media. He also said that a press release will be issued explaining the statement. It will be said that the prize will be given if the Russell’s viper is caught alive and handed over to the forest department.