Ambulances meant for carrying serious patients to hospitals are now often used to carry passengers of different northern districts to and from Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari, making the airport parking zone assume the look of a hospital premise.

The situation has arisen as road communication has turned risky due to sporadic attacks with petrol bombs and stones on vehicles plying the roads and highways, apparently to enforce the non-stop blockade called by BNP-led 20-party alliance from January 6.

Solvent and even some middle class passengers are opting for travel by air instead of bus and train for journey to and from Dhaka and they often use ambulances to reach Saidpur airport and departure from there as those are exempted from blockade.

"Finding no way, many passengers come to the airport on private ambulances to go to Dhaka for urgent purposes," said Shahin Ahmed, manager of Saidpur Airport.

Two private airlines United Airways and US Bangla Airlines regularly conduct flights from this airport and their tickets have become very dear now a days due to heavy rush of passengers, sources said.

Bangladesh Biman suspended operation from this

airport in 2007.

Visiting the parking area of Saidpur airport a couple days ago, it was found that a number of ambulances with tuning of siren and signal of emergency red light arrived at the airport with gorgeously dressed passengers and their attendants.

"While carrying a passenger to the airport, I asked him to lie on the ambulance bed with closed eyes, posing like a patient,

as unruly picketers sometimes stop ambulances on the highway to check identity of the people inside," said Rafiqul Islam, an ambulance driver coming from Rangpur.

Another ambulance driver from Dinajpur said they are now earning twice or thrice their regular income by carrying passengers to the airport daily.

"Finding no alternative, I came to the airport on a

hired ambulance as I have an appointment with a specialist doctor in Dhaka for treatment," said Mizanur Rahman, a first class contractor of Nilphamari.

Mostafizur Rahman, civil surgeon of Nilphamari, said, "It is unethical to use ambulances for carrying usual passengers or goods, depriving serious patients of the service."