An elderly man named Jamshed Ali Dhali, aged 70, died on Tuesday while being taken from Shariatpur to Dhaka after repeated obstructions by a local ambulance syndicate delayed his transfer by nearly two hours. The patient, suffering from a stroke, was referred from Shariatpur Sadar Hospital to the National Institute of Neurosciences in Dhaka. Family members alleged that local syndicate members demanded an extra 2,000 taka beyond the agreed fare and blocked the ambulance when they refused to pay.

The ambulance was stopped twice—first at Premtala in Sadar upazila and again at Jamtala in Jajira upazila—where the driver and helper were reportedly assaulted. The patient died inside the ambulance before reaching Dhaka’s Banglamotor area. Police said they were informed verbally and would act upon receiving a written complaint. The local ambulance owners’ association condemned the obstruction and called for strict action against those responsible.

This is the second death in six months in Shariatpur allegedly linked to ambulance syndicate interference, following a similar incident last August that caused a newborn’s death, sparking renewed public outrage.