Primary schools reopened on Wednesday (3 July) after a 20-day closure, and a classroom at one school in Rajshahi was found to hold a snake reported as a rare Russell's boa (bali bora).

The snake was found on Wednesday morning in a classroom of Mohanganj Government Primary School in Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi. Local people later beat it to death.

Rajshahi District Primary Education Officer Saidul Islam confirmed the incident. He said the school stands beside the Barnai river, and people believe the snake floated in on the river water and then took shelter in the classroom. It was found when the classroom lock was opened in the morning, after which local residents beat it to death.

He added that the authorities have been in contact with the school since the snake was seen, and heads of institutions at district and upazila level will be told to stay alert about snakes. No classes or exams were suspended because of the snake, he said, and everything is running as normal.

Snake and reptile specialist Borhan Biswas Romon said that from the photo it appears to be a rare Russell's boa. "We are going there to see it. Even though it is dead, we need the snake for our research. Once we have it in hand, we will be fully clear about its identity. But looking at it, it seems to be a rock python," he said.

He said this snake is not usually seen and is a rare species, but it cannot be said how it reached Bagmara.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.