NCP Men, Ambulance Drivers Clash Over Fare
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Two rounds of scuffles broke out between the National Citizen Party cadres and members of the Ambulance Owners-Drivers Association at Chattogram Medical College (CMC) Hospital over ambulance fares. Following the clashes, both groups took up positions face to face in front of the hospital's emergency department only to spread fear in the neighbourhood.
The incident took place in front of the CMC emergency department since Sunday afternoon until evening. Police attempted to calm both sides during the standoff. After nearly three hours, the feuding NCP and Ambulance Owners Association left the scene.
In the afternoon, around 4:30 PM, NCP leaders called a press conference in front of the hospital and alleged that leaders and activists of the ambulance drivers and owners association had attacked them. The first round of scuffles had occurred earlier around 12:00 PM. Two NCP members were injured in the skirmish. The injured were identified as Shadakat Hossain and M. A. Ali.
NCP leaders alleged that a powerful ambulance syndicate has been active around CMC Hospital for the past 10 years. They claim the syndicate transport critically patients and dead people and critically ill—hostage and charges several times the standard fare. A fare-fixing meeting was held a year ago, after which rates were stable for about a month. Later, they resumed charging arbitrary fares.
Ridwan Hriday, a member of the NCP's Chattogram Metropolitan Coordination Committee, said that around noon, for a patient to heading to Noakhali, an ambulance driver demanded 12,000 taka instead of the standard 5,000 taka. When NCP workers protested the excessive fare, a heated argument broke out with members of the Ambulance Workers and Owners Association, sparking the unwanted incident.
The NCP leader also alleged that despite repeated complaints to hospital authorities, the district administration, and the city corporation, no effective action has been taken so far.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Yusuf, president of the Chattogram Ambulance Owners Cooperative Society, raised counter-allegations against the NCP. He said, "If someone is overcharging, that complaint should have been brought through the administration. Why did he want to meet personally? No one is anyone's father after August 5. The excuse of August 5 no longer works."
The association claimed that the dispute started because an NCP leader tried to get his ambulance included in the association.
NCP leader Ridwan dismissed these allegations as completely false and baseless. He said no NCP leader or activist could provide any proof of extortion or trying to include an ambulance. He called it a false accusation.
Regarding the matter, Panchlaish Police Station OC Md. Zahidul Islam said, "When the two sides confronted each other, there was tension. Later, we dispersed them."
