A Chattogram court has taken a firm stance against the pervasive harassment, extortion, and overcharging by a self-styled ambulance syndicate operating at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) AGM Monirul Hasan Sarkar on Monday issued a six-point administrative directive aimed at dismantling the syndicate and ordered a field investigation report to be submitted within seven working days.
The court took the matter into formal consideration following media and social media reports.
In its observations, the court noted that a racket centred around the hospital’s emergency department and morgue has long held the public hostage, overcharging for services and preventing legitimate outside ambulances or private vehicles from entering.
The syndicate is also accused of assaulting and harassing drivers and using illegal sirens and blue lights to deceive the public, which are punishable offences under the Penal Code and the Road Transport Act.
Mandatory directives for public relief
According to the court’s administrative officer, Md Gias Uddin Chowdhury, the six directives issued in public interest mandate that no legitimate outside ambulances or private vehicles belonging to patients’ relatives may be barred from entering the hospital premises.
Authorised fare lists must be prominently displayed at key locations, including the emergency department, morgue, outpatient department, and ambulance stands. Furthermore, a dedicated helpline or special complaint centre must be established to receive reports of overcharge.
The court also directed police and hospital authorities to ensure that patients and relatives can choose ambulances or freezing vans of their preference without fear of intimidation.
Other measures include the prioritisation of a permanent police security post at the morgue and emergency areas to prevent extortion, and the filing of regular cases against syndicate ringleaders, extortionists, and owners of fake ambulances.
Administrative action and fitness screening
The court has assigned the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) North Division to investigate the situation, with the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Panchlaish Police Station directed to take necessary legal action.
Advocate Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury stated that the court exercised its jurisdiction as a “Justice of the Peace,” acting suo motu under the powers granted by Section 25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Following the judicial intervention, a special fitness screening camp for ambulances was launched at the CMCH grounds on Tuesday morning.
Jointly organised by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the CMCH Management Committee, and the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), the initiative involved hundreds of vehicles being inspected for fitness certificates, tax tokens, and essential life-saving equipment.
During a visit to the camp, Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain announced that specific parking areas have been designated for ambulances within the medical area to reduce haphazard parking and ease the suffering of patients.
