Killing of harmless snakes at Bangladesh Secretariat sparks outcry over wildlife conservation negligence
Photo Collected
Three juvenile snakes were killed by staff members at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday after being spotted climbing the exterior wall of the Ministry of Education’s building on the 18th floor. The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m., has drawn sharp criticism from wildlife experts who described the killing as an insensitive display of ignorance regarding animal conservation laws.
Snake researcher Abu Sayed, who reviewed video footage of the incident, identified the reptiles as common wolf snakes, a non-venomous species capable of scaling vertical surfaces, pipes, and cables. Despite the harmless nature of the snakes, they were beaten to death rather than being safely relocated by professional animal rescue services.
The Department of Forest confirmed that they were not notified of the presence of the snakes by Secretariat officials and only learned of the incident through media reports. An official from the department, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern that such actions at the nation’s primary administrative center undermine ongoing efforts to educate the public on wildlife protection. Representatives from the Ministry of Education’s public relations department declined to comment when contacted regarding the event.
Wildlife expert and member of the government-appointed Wildlife Commission, Reza Khan, emphasized that the proper protocol for encountering wildlife is to observe the animal and immediately contact relevant experts or organizations. Khan noted that there are numerous organizations in Dhaka equipped to handle snake rescues, and the failure of government staff to follow this procedure sets a dangerous precedent.
The killing of the snakes may constitute a violation of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2026. The legislation prohibits the harming, capturing, or killing of scheduled wildlife species. Under Schedule-2 of the Act, the common wolf snake is a protected species. Violations of the law can result in up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of up to 100,000 taka, with harsher penalties for repeat offenses.
While it remains unclear how the snakes reached the 18th floor, Forest Conservator Md. Sanaullah Patwary suggested that the reptiles might have gained access to the building via tree branches touching the structure.
Syeda Ananya Faria, co-founder of the Deep Ecology and Snake Rescue Foundation, expressed frustration over the incident. She highlighted that urban environments in Dhaka still host various wildlife species, and the failure to protect them at the seat of government makes the broader goal of public sensitization significantly more difficult to achieve.
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