There has been another reported attempt to stop an ambulance carrying a patient in Shariatpur, raising alarm and anger among locals.

On Saturday morning around 8am, a Dhaka-bound ambulance transporting a patient at a low cost in front of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital was stopped allegedly by a local youth named Sourav, who reportedly tried to take the vehicle’s keys.

When the patient’s relatives intervened, an argument ensued. At one point, the relatives were threatened with beating, and pushing and shoving occurred.

Fearing for their safety, the patient’s relatives were forced to turn the ambulance around and leave.

Locals alleged that an influential syndicate has long controlled ambulance services in the area.

They claimed that whenever patients are transported at a lower cost, obstacles are created and threats are made to intimidate the operators.

The incident has caused deep concern among residents.

Locals have urged the administration to take immediate action to ensure that such incidents do not recur and that patients can be transported safely without interference.

Earlier in January, a patient died in an ambulance that was obstructed twice allegedly by a local ambulance syndicate in Shariatpur district.

Jamshed Ali Dhali, 65, died because he did not receive timely treatment as the ambulance carrying him was stopped at two locations for around one and a half hours on the way to Dhaka, his family claimed.

Later, Jubayer Hossain Ruman Dhali, grandson of the deceased, filed a case against four identified and six unidentified people with Palong Model Police Station, said Shah Alam, Officer-in-Charge of the police station.

Later, police arrested Sumon Khan, the ambulance driver, in this connection during a drive in the Shariatpur district town.

The other accused in the case were—Sajib, 18, Pervez, 26 and Hannan, 25.