Three venomous Russell’s vipers were discovered in a harvested rice field in the Gomer Char area of Shibganj Upazila, Chapainawabganj, causing panic among local farmers. The snakes were killed and buried on-site by the laborers who discovered them.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning (September 11) around 10 AM in a field owned by Ibrahim Hossain, who had harvested the rice three days prior and left it bundled in the field. Upon returning to collect the bundles, laborers encountered the snakes and, fearing for their safety, killed them.
Ibrahim Hossain reported, “The workers had cut the rice and left it in the field. When they came back today, they found the snakes. The workers gathered and killed them, burying them right there.”
This was not an isolated incident, as the day before, nine more snakes were discovered in the same field, according to worker Soibur Rahman. This has caused widespread fear in the area, halting the rice harvest.
Another eyewitness, worker Ismail, confirmed that the discovery of snakes on consecutive days has left workers too scared to continue harvesting the rice. The 12 katha (about half an acre) of Ibrahim’s rice field remains unharvested, and neighboring farmers have also paused their work.
Local Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Malek noted that Gomer Char is located near the Padma River, making it more prone to snake encounters. However, due to the remote nature of the area, the species of the snakes found could not be confirmed.
Shibganj Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Aftabuzzaman Al Imran, when contacted, was unaware of the incidents. However, he has instructed the Upazila Livestock Officer to investigate and identify the species of the snakes.
The repeated discovery of Russell’s vipers has intensified fear among the farming community, bringing agricultural activities to a standstill in the affected region.