Moulvibazar, Oct 28 – Ambulances are usually kept out of the purview of any strike, but transport workers in Moulvibazar district were not ready to accept that. They halted an ambulance here twice on Sunday, leading to the death of a 7-day-old girl. Family members alleged that the victim, daughter of Kuton Miah of Ajmir village under Sadar union of Barlekha Upazila died as she could not be taken to hospital in time due to the road blockade enforced by transport workers.
Victim’s uncle Akbar Ali said the baby was taken to Upazila Health Complex in the morning as she had not been taking breast milk or anything else since Saturday night, and had been crying all along.
Doctors at the hospital referred her to Sylhet for better treatment and they started for Sylhet in an ambulance around 10am, he said.
But, transport workers intercepted the ambulance first at Dasherbazar in the upazila for half an hour.
The ambulance was again halted by the transport workers at Chandgram in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet when its driver was also beaten.
As the baby’s condition worsened, the demonstrators allowed the ambulance to move after one and half hours, Akbar said, adding that having no movement from the baby at that time, they took her to nearby Beanibazar Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared her dead.
Officer-in-charge of Barlekha Police Station Yasinul Haque said no written complaint was filed in this regard. “Steps will be taken once a written complaint is lodged,” he said.
Transport workers enforced a 48-hour strike across the country on Sunday morning to press home their eight-point demand, causing immense sufferings to passengers. – UNB
