Patient dies on way to Dhaka as ambulance stopped by local syndicate in Shariatpur

A 70-year-old patient died on Tuesday while being brought to Dhaka after the ambulance carrying him was allegedly stopped twice by members of a local syndicate, authorities and family members said.

The deceased was identified as Jamshed Ali Dhali, a resident of the Kutubpur area in Damudya upazila.

Additional Superintendent of Police Tanvir Hossain said, "If a case is filed, police will take all necessary legal steps."

According to his family, he suffered a stroke on Tuesday morning and was admitted to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital. As his condition worsened, on-duty doctors advised transferring him to the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Dhaka.

Relatives said they initially hired an ambulance from the sadar hospital, but were later asked to pay additional money. They then arranged another ambulance through an acquaintance and left for Dhaka around 11:30am.

Family members alleged that the ambulance was first stopped around noon in the Kotapara area on the Dhaka-Shariatpur highway and later again in the Jamtala area of Naria.

They said local ambulance operators questioned why an ambulance from outside the area had been hired instead of a local one.

According to the family, the ambulance was held up for nearly one and a half hours in total, during which the patient's condition worsened.

Doctors at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital later declared him dead at around 5:30pm, the family said.

The deceased's grandson, Jobayer Hossain, said the family was devastated by the incident. "We had to prepare for burial in this situation. We are preparing to file a case with the police by Wednesday evening," he said.

The district administration called an emergency meeting at 5pm today (14 January) with the Bangladesh Ambulance Owners Welfare Association and other concerned parties to address the situation, officials said.

Abdul Hai, president of the Bangladesh Ambulance Owners Welfare Association, condemned the incident and said those responsible must be brought to justice. "The association does not support such acts in any way," he said.

Shariatpur Civil Surgeon Dr Md Rehan Uddin said ambulance operations are not directly under the health department's control and must be addressed through administrative and legal measures. "We have spoken with the district administration, and necessary decisions are expected to come from the meeting this afternoon," he said.

This is not the first such incident in the district. On 14 August last year, a newborn died after an ambulance was allegedly stopped while being taken to Dhaka.

Police said a case was filed and a charge sheet submitted to the Shariatpur Judge Court in that incident, naming five accused. Four are currently out on bail, while police are looking for another accused, identified as Suman.

According to police, Suman may also be linked to the latest incident. Residents said repeated incidents of this kind have raised questions about oversight and action against illegal ambulance practices in the district.