Patuakhali entrepreneur believes local antivenom production could cut imports and create jobs

Every year, many people in Bangladesh die from venomous snakebites, while hospitals across the country rely on imported antivenom that requires spending crores of taka in foreign exchange. A privately owned snake venom farm in Patuakhali hopes to reduce that dependence.

Expatriate Abdur Razzak Biswas founded Bangladesh Snake Venom in Nandipara village under Madarbunia union in Patuakhali Sadar upazila in 2000.

Asked what inspired the unusual venture, Razzak said he had witnessed the hardships faced by migrant workers while working as a cameraman in Saudi Arabia. After returning home, he decided to invest his savings in a business that could create local jobs.

He believed that if people in his district had employment opportunities close to home, fewer would feel the need to migrate abroad.

Razzak began collecting and rearing venomous snakes from different parts of the country. Over the past 26 years, he has built a collection of more than 250 snakes, including king cobras, monocled cobras, banded kraits, common kraits, Russell’s vipers, pit vipers, pythons and rat snakes.

After years of legal hurdles, the farm secured official registration from the Department of Livestock Services about three months ago, allowing it to legally collect snake venom.

However, the project has stalled because no pharmaceutical company has agreed to buy the venom.

“Raw venom cannot be sold directly. It must be processed under approved standards to produce antivenom and other life-saving medicines,” Razzak said.

“No pharmaceutical company has yet shown interest in processing or purchasing the venom.”

He said he had approached a few pharmaceutical companies, including Incepta, but they declined because they only purchase refined venom.

“They advised me to apply to the government’s livestock ministry for permission to refine venom,” Razzak said.

“That will allow me to sell venom directly to pharmaceutical companies.”

According to Razzak, the farm has the potential to produce nearly 500 grams of snake venom each month, with an estimated international market value of around Tk 8 crore.

He claimed that commercial use of the venom could save Bangladesh nearly Tk 100 crore in foreign currency every year by reducing antivenom imports.

“With government and private sector support, this initiative could develop into a major industry for Bangladesh.”

The farm currently employs four people, although it began with two.

Razzak said he struggles to pay their salaries because of financial constraints. Daily operating expenses are about Tk 3,000, bringing monthly maintenance costs to nearly Tk 100,000.

Keeping the farm running has come at a high personal cost. Razzak said he had to sell trees from his ancestral land, mortgage inherited property and spend nearly all the money he had saved while working in Saudi Arabia.

“I have plans to move the farm to a better location and improve the facilities. To do that, I will need bank loans,” Razzak said.

According to a study by the Directorate General of Health Services’ (DGHS) Non-Communicable Disease Control Unit, an estimated 403,000 people are bitten by snakes in Bangladesh every year, resulting in 7,511 deaths. The findings were reported by state-run news agency BSS earlier this month.

The study found that about one in four snakebite cases involves venomous snakes. Among the victims, 10.6 percent are left with physical disabilities, while 1.9 percent suffer mental health complications. It also showed that around 95 percent of snakebite victims live in rural areas and that men are 1.4 times more likely than women to be bitten by snakes.

Patuakhali District Livestock Officer Dr Md Habibur Rahman said that though the farm had been granted registration to collect snake venom, it cannot be marketed directly. It must be processed under approved standards and regulatory procedures before it can be used by the pharmaceutical industry.

Al-Amin Hawlader, owner of Biogen Pharmaceutical in Patuakhali, said his company does not manufacture antivenom, but he welcomes the initiative.

“Bangladesh imports antivenom worth crores of taka every year. Large pharmaceutical companies should invest in this sector. It has the potential to create a new industry, encourage entrepreneurs and reduce dependence on imports,” he said.

Patuakhali Civil Surgeon Dr Khaledur Rahman Miah said antivenom is vital for treating snakebite victims, particularly in coastal areas where such cases are common.

“At present, Bangladesh depends on imported antivenom. Producing antivenom from locally collected snake venom would improve access to treatment while reducing foreign currency expenditure,” he said.

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