An 80-year-old woman from Taltali Bazar in Sandwip municipality was taken across rough seas by speedboat for emergency treatment in Chattogram after her condition worsened. A video of the journey, showing Rowshan Ara covered only with white polythene in heavy rain while using oxygen, spread on social media on Sunday morning. Her family said she had long suffered from breathing difficulties and was advised by doctors at Sandwip Medical Center to be transferred quickly.

Her son Jahangir said they left Sandwip at 10am and admitted her to the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Chattogram at 2pm. Citing doctors, he said her condition had improved somewhat, but she was not yet out of danger. The family received no special facility at the ghat for an emergency patient and boarded a speedboat with other passengers, paying Tk300 per person amid disrupted vessel services.

The video prompted public anger and concern over safe emergency treatment and transport for critically ill patients. Two sea ambulances allocated for Sandwip have reportedly remained inoperative for years. Upazila Health Officer Manas Biswas said an application for a new sea ambulance had been submitted, but no response had yet been received.