Snakebites are common in tropical countries like Bangladesh where most snakebite victims dwell in rural areas. Among the management options after snakebite in Bangladesh, snake charmers (Ozha in Bengali language) are the first contact following a snakebite for more than 80% of the victims and they are treated mostly with the help of some medicinal plants. Our aim of the study is to compile plants used for the treatment of snakebite occurrence in Bangladesh. The field survey was carried out in a period of almost 3 years. Fieldwork was undertaken in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, including Chittagong, Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachari. Open-ended and semistructured questionnaire was used to interview a total of 110 people including traditional healers and local people. A total of 116 plant species of 48 families were listed. Leaves were the most cited plant part used against snake venom. Most of the reported species were herb in nature and paste mostly used externally is the mode of preparation. The survey represents the preliminary information of certain medicinal plants having neutralizing effects against snake venoms, though further phytochemical investigation, validation, and clinical trials should be conducted before using these plants as an alternative to popular antivenom.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–ZnS composite films were prepared by varying the composition of PVA ranging from 1–5 wt % through a simple solvent casting method. The photocatalytic enactment of the composites was evaluated along with the investigations of their photoluminescence (PL), optical transparency, morphology, and thermal properties. The firm interaction between the ZnS and PVA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, UV–vis, and PL spectroscopies. PVA–ZnS composites showed enhanced luminescence property than PVA. The composites exhibited very good optical transparency regardless of the amount of PVA addition. The thermogravimetric analysis data indeed exhibited better thermal stability of the composites. The glass transition temperature ( T g ), melting temperature ( T m ), enthalpy of melting (Δ H m ), and crystallinity were evaluated for such composites. The composites demonstrated morphological variations depending on the amount of PVA addition, although the particle size of ZnS remained similar in the nanometer range (50–120 nm) for all composite samples. The prepared composite films exhibited superior photocatalytic performance in the degradation of methylene blue compared with the bare ZnS and PVA. This study may give a new insight into the fabrication of PVA–ZnS photocatalysts for the treatment of organic pollutants.

Irrigation is an important area of Bangladesh where most cases it depends on fossil fuels, either diesel-powered irrigation systems or grid electricity-operated irrigation systems. Solar irrigation is an alternative way to promote clean energy in the irrigation sector which is in line to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). A business model is essential for the promotion of Solar Irrigation Pumps (SIP), where alternative use of water and electricity after irrigation may play a vital role to make the business viable of solar irrigation pumps. Grid integration of SIP is one of the alternative uses where the techno-economic viability of SIP grid integration is an important issue to make acceptable to the solar irrigation operators. The government of Bangladesh published a dedicated grid integration guideline for SIP. Interested solar irrigation pump operators can take this facility by adding grid integration-related connections and additional equipment to their projects to supply surplus electricity into the distribution grid after irrigation uses. This paper analyzes the grid integration-related integration costing and surplus electricity pricing to understand the techno-economic viability of grid integration of solar irrigation pumps. According to the analysis result, higher-capacity solar irrigation pumps are financially viable for grid integration up to a certain distance. Also, this study gives a financial viability analysis of the combined grid integration of multiple SIPs.

Introduction: Burn is the most devastating of all injuries and a major global public health crisis. Biological dressings with collagen create the most physiological interface between the wound surface and environment and are impermeable to bacteria. Collagen dressing is easily applicable, non-immunogenic, non-pyrogenic, hypo allergic and pain free. Collagen is an endogenous substance which forms an important structural component in connective tissue. By applying it over the wound, exposed dermis and free nerve endings get covered leading to reduction in pain and infection. Objective: To assess the efficacy of collagen dressing in burn wound management. Methods: Prospective interventional study was carried out at the Department of Burn and Reconstructive Surgery, faculty of Paediatric Surgery, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute. A total 20 patients were included in this study after fulfillment of all selection criteria during the study period. Result: The mean pain relief time, wound healing and hospital stay were 2.7±0.6 days, 7.3±1.0 days and 4.5±0.6 days respectively. Conclusion: Collagen dressing is safe and effective in the treatment of superficial partial thickness burn in children.

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