In a commendable initiative to protect farmers from deadly snakebites, 20 marginal farmers from Ramnagar village under Joymontop Union in Singair Upazila of Manikganj were provided with protective gumboots on Friday evening (July 11). The event was organized by Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation, with support from Humanity Beyond Barriers and Model Livestock Advancement Foundation.
To mark the occasion, a program titled "Snakebite Vulnerable Communities of Singair" was held at the residence of local resident Billal Hossain Master in Ramnagar. The program was moderated by Syeda Anannya Faria, Director of Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation.
Speakers at the event included Mobarak Hossain, Convener of Singair Upazila Press Club, and Mosaddekur Rahman, President of the Jahangirnagar University chapter of the Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation, among others.
Mobarak Hossain emphasized the importance of awareness, stating, “Due to a lack of proper knowledge, people often die from snakebites. Instead of going to hospitals, victims are still taken to traditional healers, which increases the risk of death. We must change this habit and ensure snakebite victims are taken directly to medical facilities.”
Syeda Anannya Faria shared the broader goals of the project: “Our mission is to reduce deaths caused by snakebites, raise awareness among farmers, and ensure the availability of antivenom at the Upazila Health Complex.”
Mosaddekur Rahman pointed out the vulnerability of farmers at the grassroots level. “Many marginal farmers are dying due to snakebites simply because they lack awareness and protection. Distributing simple safety gear like gumboots can greatly reduce the risk and save lives,” he said. He also mentioned that a total of 300 gumboots will be distributed across three unions in Singair as part of the project.
Present at the event were assistant project manager Md. Foysal Kabir, Singair Press Club General Secretary Sujon Molla, volunteers of the Snake Conservation Foundation, and local farmers.
This initiative reflects the growing urgency to address snakebite-related deaths in rural Bangladesh and the importance of combining education, medical access, and protective tools to safeguard vulnerable communities.
