The strike by private ambulance owners at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH)—staged to demand a designated parking area—has been suspended for the next seven days.

Badal Madbar, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Private Ambulance Owners’ Welfare Cooperative Society, confirmed this on Wednesday evening (October 28).

Prior to this, the strike had caused severe hardship for patients and their relatives at the hospital. Many struggled to find ambulances to transport the deceased home or to transfer critically ill patients to other medical facilities. Some were even forced to transport the bodies of their loved ones using CNG-run auto-rickshaws or covered vans.

Since Wednesday morning, relatives of patients could be seen waiting for ambulances near the hospital’s emergency department (both the old and new buildings) and the outpatient department. Some relatives alleged that they did not receive the necessary assistance even after contacting the national emergency service, 999.

Badal Madbar had previously explained that 120 to 130 private ambulances are typically engaged in serving the approximately 4,000 patients at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. However, due to the lack of a designated parking area, ambulances parked on the streets are frequently ticketed by the police or impounded.

He noted that the owners had previously renovated a space near the hospital’s old building at their own expense, but were subsequently forced to vacate that area as well. While they are willing to pay government revenue (taxes/fees), they are requesting a designated parking space.

On the other hand, Brigadier General A.K.M. Md. Farhad Hossain, Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, stated that there is no provision for parking private ambulances on government premises. He clarified that while the ambulance owners are not being prevented from conducting their business, they must remain outside the hospital grounds. He added that the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station has been tasked with overseeing the situation.

The Director further mentioned that discussions have been held with higher authorities regarding the addition of more ambulances to serve patients at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Patients and their relatives hope that the seven-day suspension of the strike will allow ambulance services to return to normal. However, uncertainty remains as to whether a permanent solution to the parking problem will be found.