High business officials are hiring ambulances for their safe transportation in the city during the ongoing political programmes depriving thousands of patients of their basic right.
People familiar with such incidents said, patients are often unable to hire ambulances even after offering double the fare as these vehicles are booked in advance.
Sources at different private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres said many prominent doctors also avail ambulances for their transportation during the turmoil putting pressure on vehicles designed to carry patients to and from hospitals.
"Failing to manage an ambulance, I have hired a scooter to take my wife and newborn baby home taking a risk," Abdus Salam, attendant of a patient at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) told the FE.
"Can you imagine that physically fit people are not using public transports fearing untoward situation, but the patients are forced to take the risks," he added expressing his anger.
Amzad Hossain, another victim of the situation said at the city's Samorita Hospital Ltd, that he could not manage an ambulance till Wednesday afternoon though his doctor released his daughter in the morning.
"Doctors have released my daughter at around 9am but I could not manage an ambulance after contacting different hospitals and clinics in the city. Finally, I was able to manage one through a broker, but he said the ambulance will be available after 9pm," he added.
While visiting different hospitals and clinics, this correspondent found that many patients were forced to stay back at hospitals on completion of their treatment because of ambulance shortage.
However, sources at different public and private hospitals in the city said that they largely depend on ambulances owned by individuals on whom they do not have any control.
"If the privately owned ambulances are rented out to businessman, what can we do? We are also victim of the situation. We cannot admit new patients as released patients are forced to stay back at hospitals," Central Hospital general manager Hafiz U Ahmed told the FE.
Mr Ahmed said sometime they use ambulances to transport doctors to and from hospital. Otherwise they would not be able come to their workplace in such a violent situation.
An agent of a privately owned ambulance, seeking anonymity, said our vehicles are in top demand among the reputed business organisations. He said payments of these organisations are also better.
"Private organisations hire ambulance for whole hartal period paying the whole amount in advance for which we prefer such business. Otherwise renting of our ambulances become uncertain," he said.
On a query, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) President Prof. Dr. Mahmud Hasan said no organisation or individual involved in such business can rent out ambulances to persons other than patients as these enjoy special privileges from the government.
"It is a punishable offence if the institutionally or privately-owned ambulances are rented out to persons other than patients," he added.
The BMA president urged all concerned to avoid such unethical business in the greater interest of the nation.
"I strongly request law enforcing agency personnel to deal strongly with the issue."
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