Patient-carrying vehicle stopped due to external fare; death blamed on ‘ambulance racket

A 70-year-old patient, Jamshed Ali Dhali of Kutubpur in Damudya Upazila, tragically died en route to Dhaka after his ambulance was reportedly obstructed twice by a local syndicate in Shariatpur. The incident has once again raised concerns over the growing influence of ambulance cartels in the region.

According to family members, Jamshed Ali fell ill on Tuesday morning and was admitted to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital around 9:00 am. Doctors at the hospital advised that he be transferred to the National Institute of Neurosciences in Dhaka for advanced treatment.

The family initially hired an ambulance from the hospital premises for BDT 6,000. However, upon boarding, the driver demanded additional fees. Forced to find an alternative, the family engaged another known ambulance at BDT 5,000 and began the journey to Dhaka around 11:30 am.

Obstruction on the Road

The family alleges that Suman Khan, a local ambulance owner, along with 8–10 associates, blocked the ambulance twice on the Dhaka-Shariatpur Highway—first at Kotapara and later at Jamtala—delaying the journey by approximately two and a half hours in total. The syndicate members reportedly demanded that only local ambulances be used, opposing the family’s choice of an outside vehicle.

Despite intervention from local residents allowing the ambulance to continue, Jamshed Ali succumbed to his illness at around 4:00 pm before reaching Dhaka.

Family Account

Jamshed Ali’s grandson, Zobayer Hossain, told Prothom Alo:
“The local syndicate deliberately delayed our ambulance because we did not hire their vehicle. After local intervention, we continued towards Dhaka, but even then, my grandfather passed away before reaching the hospital.”

Historical Context

This is not the first such incident. On 14 August last year, a similar obstruction by the Shariatpur ambulance syndicate resulted in the death of a newborn during transfer from a private hospital to Dhaka. Legal action was taken against several individuals at that time.

Hospital and Police Statements

Dr. Rashed Ahmed of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital confirmed Jamshed Ali’s stroke and advised transfer to Dhaka for specialised care but could not comment on the obstruction incident.

Suman Khan, accused by the family, denied the allegations, claiming he only inquired about the use of a Dhaka-bound ambulance.

Shah Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Palong Model Police Station, stated that the police received a verbal complaint and are awaiting a written submission to proceed with legal action.

Incident Summary Table

This incident highlights persistent challenges in Bangladesh’s patient transport system, particularly the unregulated influence of local ambulance syndicates, which continues to jeopardise timely medical care.