To claim a promised reward of Tk50,000, Rezaul Khan, a farmer from Faridpur, captured a Russell’s Viper and brought it to the local press club on Saturday.
The incident sparked debate after the Forest Department refused to issue an acceptance letter for the prize.
Rezaul found the snake while tending to crops in the Signboard area of Aliabad union under Faridpur Sadar on Saturday evening.
With local assistance, he secured the viper in an aluminium container covered with a plastic net.
Despite his efforts, authorities declined when he visited the Forest Department on Sunday afternoon to collect the acceptance letter required for the reward, citing legal constraints.
The controversy escalated after the Awami League's Faridpur district President Shamim Hossain, initially announced a reward for capturing live snakes, including Russell’s Vipers, perceived as a threat.
However, conflicting statements emerged from the party office the next day, shifting the criteria for receiving the reward.
Syed Awwal Hossain Tanu, councillor of Ward 25 in Faridpur Municipality, emphasized the legal implications of wildlife capture, asserting that such actions require adherence to strict legal procedures.
Faridpur Divisional Forest Officer Golam Kuddus Bhuiyan reiterated that capturing protected wildlife constitutes a legal offence, complicating the issuance of official acceptance letters.