Snake charmer dies after snake bite in Gaibandha

A snake charmer named Azadul Islam Ghutu, 34, died after being bitten by a snake while training a new snake in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha. The deceased was the son of the late Abdul Malek from the Tafarkamal Shialgara village in Sapmara Union of the upazila.

Azadul had planned to put on a show with the snake at a local market on Monday afternoon.

Local sources said Azadul Islam used to display snakes during folk shows in various areas, and recently he had been performing shows by wrapping snakes around banana trees. As part of this, on Monday, he brought a venomous snake from the Kochashahar area for a show arranged at Asadmora in Shakhahar Union. Later, while trying to train the newly caught snake for display, it suddenly bit him. He fell ill.

Family members first took him to a traditional healer in the Shibsamudra area of Kalai, Joypurhat. When his condition deteriorated, he was taken to Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex around 11:30pm. Doctors there declared him dead.

Confirming the matter around 12:30am, Medical Officer Hedayetul Islam of the upazila health complex said the patient had died long before being brought to the hospital. He was brought dead.

The doctor said, on behalf of the family, that after the snake bite in the afternoon, the patient was first taken to a traditional healer in Joypurhat and later to the hospital around 11:30pm. He also said that a snakebite patient should be taken to hospital immediately after being bitten.