A schoolgirl named Shefa Khatun, 15, has died in Rajbari about two hours after being bitten by a snake. The incident took place on the afternoon of Wednesday, 16 August, in Maharajpur village of Basantapur union.

Shefa was the daughter of Sirajul Islam Jamadar of the village and a Class 10 student at Bir Muktijoddha Alhaj Akbar Ali Morji High School in Udaypur.

After the snakebite, Shefa was kept at home and a farmer named Panna Molla was brought in to perform exorcism rituals on her. She was later taken to Faridpur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital, where the doctor on duty in the emergency department declared her dead.

Shefa's paternal uncle Zahiruddin Jamadar said a snake bit Shefa in the afternoon as she came out of the bathroom in front of the house and was returning indoors. Farmer Panna Molla was then brought from neighbouring Bajitpur village and performed exorcism rituals on her for two hours. When her condition worsened, she was taken to Faridpur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital at around 7pm. On arrival at around 8pm, the emergency department doctor declared Shefa dead.

Local UP member Md Jahangir Alam confirmed the matter and said the girl should have been taken to hospital immediately after the snakebite instead of being given exorcism rituals at home. The girl's family made a mistake by wasting time with rituals at home, he said, calling it very sad.

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