Shakinur Rahman Sabbir, a student at Rajshahi University, has died after being bitten by a venomous Russell's viper (chandrabora). He was a student in the university's psychology department in the 2016-17 academic session. His village home is in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi.

He was bitten by the snake on the bank of the Padma on the evening of Sunday, 5 May, and was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. When his condition worsened he was moved to the ICU. He died on Monday, 6 May.

Sabbir's friend Rakibul Islam Bipul told Jago News that after the Maghrib prayer several friends were sitting and chatting on the bank of the Padma next to Moktar Bazar, where they all ate jilapi. When Sabbir picked up a piece of paper from the ground to wipe his hands after eating, the Russell's viper bit him. The friends immediately killed the snake and rushed Sabbir to hospital.

Expressing sorrow, Dr Enamul Haque, a professor in the psychology department, said Sabbir came from a very poor family that lives on other people's land. Asking Sabbir on several occasions, he learned that because of poverty Sabbir came from Charghat upazila to attend classes at the university, and gave private tuition there on the bank of the Padma. It was there, on the bank of the Padma on Sunday, that the Russell's viper bit him. "We pray for his soul," he said.

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