Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin today compared Sheikh Hasina's departure --ending her more than 15-year rule in the face of a mass uprising -- to the disappearance of Russell's Viper, a venomous snake that frequently made headlines last year in central and southern Bangladesh.

"Sheikh Hasina's iron-fisted regime bowed out to a people's uprising and was forced to resign on August 5 before fleeing the country. This reminds me of Russell's Viper, which also disappeared from Bangladesh," said the adviser.

"One issue has come up several times in discussions here -- law and order, and corruption. When I hear these topics, I am reminded of Russell's Viper."

Hinting at the venomousness of the previous regime, he said that after Sheikh Hasina left the country, this snake also disappeared.

"I don't know why this is the case!" he wondered at a seminar organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at its auditorium in Dhaka.

Russell's Viper, which gained attention in previous years for deterring farmers from paddy fields and frightening people in rural areas, is often claimed to be the world's fifth most venomous snake.

There were reports of fatalities from snakebites. However, researchers argue that this species does not even rank among the 30 most venomous snakes in the world.

At the seminar, the adviser also stressed that advisory council members do not take financial benefits.

"The advisory council does not take any money. From the chief adviser to all other advisers, no one is here for financial gain," he said.

"These individuals did not come here for money. Our working relationship is transparent. We learn from one another and are working together. This itself is a sign of reduced corruption," he added.

He further claimed that large-scale corruption, which previously led to the theft of Tk 28 lakh crore, is no longer occurring at the same level.

"That level of theft is no longer happening. However, corruption has not been eradicated—it is quite difficult to eliminate," he said.

Among the most counterfeited items in the world, the US dollar ranks at the top, the adviser noted.

"This cannot be stopped overnight—it is a very challenging task. However, we have taken various initiatives to address these issues. Due to these measures, corruption has decreased, and it will continue to decline further in the future," he concluded.