A young man named Bulbul Islam, 22, has died after being bitten by a venomous snake in Godagari, Rajshahi. The incident happened on Friday night (29 June) in Chapal village of Deopara union in the upazila. He was the son of Rabiul Islam of the village.

Dr Zahedul Islam, emergency medical officer at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), said the youth was brought to the hospital at around 9pm on Friday. His death was confirmed by ECG; he had died before reaching the hospital.

Citing the patient's relatives, the doctor said Bulbul Islam was bitten two hours before arriving at hospital. He was first treated with incantations by an exorcist (ojha), and was taken to RMCH only when his condition worsened. Because two to two and a half hours were lost to the rituals, he died before reaching hospital. It is not known what snake bit him; the family only said it was a black snake.

Dr Zahedul Islam said the body was handed over to the relatives after legal formalities.

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