All health centres and hospitals in Bangladesh have been ordered to stock anti-venom after reports of a surge in snake bites across the country.

Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen also urged the public to bring snake bite victims to hospitals as soon as possible.

Hospitals in rural Bangladesh have reported an increase in people being bitten by snakes, especially by the Russell's viper, which is found in South Asia.

The incidents have been a major topic on Bangladeshi social media in recent weeks.

As it feeds on rodents, the Russell's viper is often found near human settlements, and in farmland particularly during harvest season.