The Bangladesh Ambulance Owners Welfare Association and the Chittagong Ambulance Owners Cooperative Society have announced an indefinite work stoppage to press for a two-point demand, including final approval of the policy regarding the commercialisation of ambulance services across the country.
This work stoppage will begin Sunday, 14 December, at 6am.
An announcement made on the Facebook page of the Chittagong Ambulance Owners Cooperative Society on Tuesday stated that they have also demanded that cases and harassment by traffic police on the roads come to an end until the policy is implemented.
Mohammad Yusuf, President of the Chittagong Ambulance Owners Cooperative Society, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Three years ago, we raised the same demands. At that time, verbal assurances of cooperation were given. But nothing happened in reality. So, we have been forced to announce the programme again.”
He further said, “If our demands are not met, ambulance services across the country will be suspended from 14 December.”
When asked what would happen if there is a need for patient transport during emergencies, Yusuf replied, “Then we will see according to the situation. We want to provide service, but harassment must stop first.”
If the announced programme by ambulance owners is implemented, there is a concern that emergency medical services will be disrupted.
