These ambulances mostly owned by various private clinics charge excessive amounts to transport patients. Their operators prevent taxis from picking up any patient from the emergency unit.

A group of class three and four employees of the hospital in collaboration with a number of doctors have been doing this business undisturbed for years, sources said.

The only ambulance in working order belonging to the DMCH is used for VIP patients. Otherwise its operation is limited to carrying doctors and hospital officials.

A spot visit to the emergency last week brought to light how patients are victimised. Anyone trying to rent a taxi is prevented from doing so and asked to use the ambulance service. Often, hoodlums threaten to manhandle taxi drivers who venture near the emergency unit.

Hospital sources said that gang leaders have underhand agreements with doctors who refer patients to them. Usually these unscrupulous doctors are paid handsome commissions at the end of each month. Sources said that the business has become so alluring that more doctors have joined in.

"I had to opt for this ambulance. The ward 35 doctor advised me to use their service assuring every support for the patient on our way back to Tangail," said a relative of a burn patient standing next to one of the ambulances.

An attendant of a patient looking for ambulance last Monday night was found surrounded by half a dozen drivers who dragged him to a corner of the emergency gate to settle the charges.

Eventually, one agreed to an amount of Tk 4,000 for a trip to Mymensingh.

"I preferred a taxi which would have cost half the fare but not a single would dare to pick patients from the emergency unit. That's why the ambulance had to be used," said the attendant.

This correspondent personally witnessed similar incidents at the hospital.

Interestingly, the ambulances are ordinary microbuses transformed into ambulances. They have no basic life-support equipment like stretchers, oxygen cylinders, paramedics and first aid tools.

The DMCH authority has not taken any action against this illegal business and it continues to flourish leaving ordinary people to suffer.