Privately run ambulance owners on Tuesday demanded commercial registration for their vehicles, saying that the change was essential for the vehicles to operate as 鈥榲ehicles for rent鈥� legally.
The demand was raised at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Ambulance Owners Welfare Association.
Leaders of the association also called for ambulances to be officially recognised as an emergency service.
They said that more than 9,000 privately operated ambulances had been providing commercial services for years, transporting patients and bodies across the country. However, the vehicles are still registered under the 鈥榥ot for rent鈥� category.
鈥榃e operate as rental transport. People pay for our services, but our vehicles have not been categorised as 鈥渇or rent鈥� yet,鈥� said association leader Badol Madbor.
Golam Mostafa Fuad, an adviser to the association, said that since ambulances fell under the 鈥榥ot for rent鈥� category, the police often filed cases against those despite their crucial role in the healthcare system.
The Road Transport Act treats microbuses as emergency healthcare transport, resulting in higher fees and regulatory complications, they said, adding that although ambulances were essential for emergency medical services, they were still not officially recognised as such.
The association demanded that the government issue special instructions allowing ambulances to operate without interruption until necessary reforms are made.
They also urged authorities to stop police harassment on roads until the issues are resolved, warning that they would launch tougher movement if the government fails to take a prompt action in this regard.
