Police have arrested one person in connection with the death of an elderly patient after an ambulance, carrying him, was allegedly obstructed by a private ambulance syndicate in Shariatpur while the man was being taken to Dhaka for treatment.
The deceased, Jamshed Ali Dhali, 75, died while being taken to Dhaka last night after his ambulance was reportedly stopped at multiple points, causing a delay of nearly two hours, according to a case filed by the victim's grandson, Jubayer Hossain Ruman Dhali.
The case was filed with Palong Model Police Station around 9:00pm, naming four accused and five to six unidentified individuals, said Shah Alam, officer-in-charge of the police station.
The arrestee was identified as local ambulance owner Suman Khan, 38. Other named accused include ambulance drivers Sajib, 28, Parvez, 26, and Hannan, 25, the OC added.
According to the OC and case statement, Jamshed Ali ill on Tuesday morning and was taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital around 9:00am. Doctors at the emergency department identified stroke symptoms and referred him to the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Dhaka.
The family initially arranged an ambulance for Tk 6,500. However, local ambulance operators allegedly demanded an additional Tk 2,000, insisting the total fare be at least Tk 8,500. The family refused and arranged another Dhaka-bound ambulance for Tk 5,000.
Fearing further obstruction, the patient was moved by battery-run auto-rickshaw to Chourangi Mor, about half a kilometre from the hospital, where he was placed in the ambulance. Shortly after departure, the vehicle was stopped in Premtala area of Shariatpur Sadar upazila and again in Jamtala area of Zajira upazila, where the driver and helper were allegedly assaulted.
Following local intervention, the ambulance was allowed to proceed.
Jamshed Ali died inside the ambulance at Bangla Motor area in Dhaka around 3:00pm, and doctors later declared him dead at the neuroscience hospital, the statement said.
Ambulance driver Md Salman told The Daily Star that Dhaka-bound ambulances are routinely forced to pay commissions of Tk 2,000–4,000 to local syndicates. He said their vehicle was stopped twice on Tuesday, resulting in significant delay.
“Had we reached the hospital on time, the patient might have survived,” he said
The victim’s grandson said the family was repeatedly threatened and obstructed.
“Because of the delay caused by them, my grandfather died inside the ambulance. We want strict punishment,” he said.
Before his arrest, accused Suman Khan denied any involvement, claiming he was not present at the scene and had only questioned the driver over the phone for taking a patient without prior consultation.
He also alleged that the ambulance driver had threatened him.
Shariatpur Ambulance Owners’ Welfare Association president Md Abdul Hai Mollah said he was unaware of the incident but added that no one has the right to obstruct an ambulance.
“If anyone from Shariatpur is involved, they deserve strict punishment,” he said.
Shariatpur Sadar Hospital emergency physician Khondaker Rashed Ahmed said the patient had hypertension and repeated vomiting, indicating a probable stroke, and was referred for specialised treatment.
Civil Surgeon Dr Md Rehan Uddin said there is no government policy regulating private ambulances, limiting the health department’s authority. He said law enforcement agencies would take action if criminal offences were established.
A similar incident occurred on August 14 last year, when a newborn died in an ambulance in Damudya upazila after alleged obstruction by a private ambulance syndicate. An investigation committee was later formed in that case.
