Bangladesh
Ambulance owners call off strike.

Ambulance owners call off strike

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Ambulance Malik Kallyan Samiti (BAMKS) has withdrawn its nationwide strike scheduled from tomorrow following a meeting with the Additional IGP of Police (Crime and Operations) Atiqur Rahman, the association said in a press statement issued on Monday (24 July) night.

"We have been assured that we'll not be harassed on roads by police and there will be an 'ambulance guideline' within three months. So, we have called off our strike considering the dengue situation," said Golam Mostafa, president of BAMKS.

The meeting was held at the Police HQ this evening with Additional Inspector General of Police Atiqul Islam in the chair.Earlier today, BAMKS had called for an indefinite nationwide strike from tomorrow to press home their six-point demands, including the withdrawal of taxes imposed by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).

Their demands included income tax exemption from the ambulances, adopting a national ambulance policy, toll exemption facility, parking facilities in the hospitals, priority service at the fuel stations, and harassment-free movement on the roads. There are around 5,000 members who own more than 7,000 ambulances, registered with the BRTA, according to Mostafa.