Snakes are again on the rise at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU) in the muggy heat. Various species of venomous snakes have recently been seen near buildings, roads, fields, the school, the lakeside and the halls on campus.

Cobras were seen in the hall compound on Saturday (15 October) and Sunday (16 October). Last year, too, snakes appeared in large numbers at the start of winter.

Students living in the halls are deeply frightened to find so many snakes on returning to campus after the long Durga Puja holiday.

In April this year, jagonews24.com published a report headlined "Snake menace at BSMRSTU, students in fear". After the report, the university administration took the necessary steps, but snakes are on the rise again.

According to campus sources, students applied to the registrar last November for safe movement and for antivenom. The application demanded that the campus be kept free of undergrowth and that antivenom be supplied to the district Sadar hospital.

In response, carbolic acid was spread in various places on campus on the instructions of vice-chancellor Prof Dr AQM Mahbub. But those concerned believe that because snakes breed in several places on campus, various species keep appearing.

Md Shariffuzzaman, a teacher in the university's Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, told Jagonews that snakes had been reported several times before. They move through undergrowth across the university, and because their breeding grounds are on campus they are seen often.

He said the university does not have enough gardeners, and those it has neglect their duties. Because undergrowth is not cleared regularly, students are encountering snakes.

Atiqur Rahman, a student of Sheikh Russel Hall, said the venomous snakes being seen are no less than four or five months old, which means a mother snake has hatched many eggs on campus, so more are appearing. The university authorities should act quickly before anything happens, he said.

Cobra venom is mainly a potent synaptic neurotoxin and cardiotoxin. A person can die within 40-55 minutes of a cobra bite. Since the start of this year, more than 10 snakes of this species have been killed in the university area.

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