A grocer named Md Akkubbar Sheikh, 35, has died of a venomous snakebite in Boalmari, Faridpur.

He died late on the night of Wednesday, 5 August, while being taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Akkubbar was the son of the late Rabban Sheikh of Joynagar-Charbhagdia village in Satoir union of the upazila, and leaves three young children.

According to relatives and local sources, Akkubbar was on his way to his shop at Satoir bazaar at about 10:30pm when he stepped on the tail of a venomous cobra, which struck him. Hearing his cries, locals came to help and took him to a local snake charmer (ojha).

It is alleged that the ojha spent several hours chanting to try to draw out the venom, wasting time. When his condition worsened he was taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where a doctor declared him dead at about 2:45am.

Confirming the incident, his cousin Md Naim Biswas told Jagonews that time was lost by taking him to the ojha. Had he been taken to hospital immediately, his life might have been saved.

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