Patient transport vehicle stopped by ‘ambulance racket’ over external hire, resulting in death en route

A 70-year-old man tragically died after his ambulance was obstructed twice on the Shariatpur–Dhaka route, allegedly by a local ambulance syndicate protesting the use of an external vehicle. The incident occurred on Tuesday as the patient was being transferred from Shariatpur Sadar Hospital to the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital in Dhaka.

The deceased, Jamshid Ali Dhali, hailed from Kutubpur in Damudya Upazila. According to his family, he fell seriously ill on Tuesday morning and was admitted to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital at around 9:00 am. Doctors advised that he required advanced treatment available only in Dhaka.

The family initially hired an ambulance from the hospital premises for BDT 6,000, but the fee was subsequently increased. They then arranged an alternative vehicle for BDT 5,000. However, at approximately 12:00 pm, a group led by local ambulance owner Suman Khan allegedly intercepted the vehicle near Kotapara on the Shariatpur–Dhaka highway. They reportedly demanded that local ambulances be used instead of outside vehicles, resulting in a prolonged delay.

Despite local intervention enabling the ambulance to continue its journey after around 40 minutes, it was again stopped near Jamtala, Naria, for another 50 minutes before being released. Jamshid Ali Dhali passed away around 4:00 pm, shortly before reaching the hospital.

His grandson, Zobair Hossain, said, “They were angered that we did not use a local ambulance, stopping us twice for a total of nearly three hours. Even after finally resuming the journey, my grandfather passed away before we reached Dhaka.”

This is not the first such incident. On 14 August last year, a similar obstruction of an ambulance from a private hospital resulted in the death of a newborn, leading to legal action against several syndicate members.

A spokesperson for Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, Dr Rashed Ahmed, said: “The patient was admitted with a stroke and required advanced care in Dhaka. We cannot confirm what occurred between the ambulance drivers en route.”

The police have received an oral complaint, and written documentation is expected. Shah Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Palong Model Police Station, stated that legal action will follow once the formal complaint is submitted.

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The tragic death has reignited concerns over the unchecked influence of local ambulance syndicates and the urgent need for regulatory oversight to prevent further loss of life.