The death toll from Monday’s tragic jet crash into the Milestone School and College building at Uttara in the capital, creates a confusion in the minds of the people as different figures are given by various official sources.
As of now, the government reports 31 deaths and 51 injured are undergoing medical treatment. However, according to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) on July 22, the number of fatalities stood at 31. With one additional death on Wednesday and two more on Thursday, that figure would rise to 34.
In contrast, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) maintained on Thursday that the total number of deaths—including the three recently reported—remains at 31.
The discrepancy has fuelled speculation in public mind. Since the crash, some social media users have claimed that authorities are not giving the actual death toll, with some asserting that the number of fatalities could be between 150 and 200.
However, these claims have not been substantiated with any credible evidence. In response, the Bangladesh Air Forces issued a statement condemning the spread of misinformation and rumours regarding the number of casualties.
In an effort to establish clarity, the Milestone School and College authorities have formed a six-member committee to compile an accurate list of the deceased, injured, and missing—complete with names and addresses.
On Thursday, the school confirmed that it has received information about five individuals still unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, another two students injured in the jet crash on Milestone School and College died while undergoing treatment at National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on Thursday.
So far, 13 victims died at burn institute while the total death toll from Monday's plane crash stood at 34 mostly schoolchildren.
One of the victims, 15-year-old Mahia, succumbed to her injuries around 4:30pm at the institute's intensive care unit, said Shaon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon of the burn institute. Mahia, an eighth grader, had suffered 50 percent burns, he said.
Earlier around 1:52pm Thursday, 13-year-old Mahtab Uddin Bhuiyan, a seventh grader, had sustained 85 percent burn injuries in the massive fire, passed away while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the burn institute.
However, according to the information provided by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at 5:30pm Thursday, the death toll in the aircraft crash stands at 31 while 51 injured are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the capital.
3 students, two guardians still missing: Milestone Principal
Three students and two guardians remain missing since the deadly jet crash.
Mohammad Ziaul Alam, principal of the Milestone School and College, revealed the information through a statement issued on Thursday.
In the statement, he said that on Monday, approximately between 1:12pm and 1:14pm, a Bangladesh Air Force FT-7 BGI fighter jet crashed during a routine training. Since classes had broken up at 1:00pm, some students were waiting for their guardians when the tragic accident occurred.
He also said that in the incident, 18 students, two teachers, and two guardians from our school branch lost their lives on that day. A total of 51 people were seriously injured, including 40 students, seven teachers, one guardian, one female attendant, and one office assistant.
As of now, five individuals -- three students and two guardians -- remain missing, the statement added.
"On Tuesday, Milestone School and College formed an internal investigation committee regarding the incident. Accordingly, the school authorities are only providing information about those from this institution who are deceased, injured, or missing. The process of updating this information is ongoing," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that the bodies of six deceased persons are yet to be identified. DNA samples have already been collected from their families for test.
Currently, the unidentified bodies are kept at the morgue of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
DNA tests confirm identities of 5 killed in Milestone jet crash
The Forensic DNA Laboratory of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has confirmed the identities of five more victims killed in Monday’s Air Force fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College at Uttara in the capital.
According to a press release issued by the CID on Thursday, the department had collected 11 DNA samples and was able to positively identify five girls.
The five children are: Okia Ferdous, daughter of Faruk Hossain and Salma Akter, Lamia Akhter Samia, daughter of Md Babul and Majeda, Afsan Akter Priya, daughter of Md Abbas Uddin and Minu Akhter, Raisa Moni, daughter of Md Shahabul Sheikh and Mim, and Marium alias Afia, daughter of Abdul Kadir and Umme Tamima Akter.
Bodies of six unidentified persons were kept at the morgues of Combined Military Hospital, while body of one person at the morgue of Lubana General Hospital and Cardiac Centre, said a handout of the PID on Wednesday.
DNA sample testing was carried out to hand over the bodies to their families.
Government formally published names of the deceased and injured.
The government on Thursday formally published names of 22 deceased and 57 injured in the jet crash.
Twenty-two among 29 people who died in the jet crash are identified as Tanvir,14, Afnan Faiyaz,14, Mahrin, 46, Bappy, 9, Masuka, 37, AB Shamim, 14, Shayan Yusuf, 14, Arikson,13, Ariyan,13, Nazia, 13, Nafi, 9, Rojoni Islam, 37, Md Samiul Karim, 9, Mrs Fatema Akter, 9, Mehnaz Afarin Humayra, 9, Sariya Akter, 13, Nusrat Jahan Anika,10, Saad Salahuddin, 9, Sayma Akter, 9, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, Junayet, 9 and Omayer Nur Ashiq,11.
A total of 22 bodies have already been handed over to their families after identification, said a PID press release on Wednesday.
With the newly identified five and two kids who died at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) Thursday, the identities of 29 people have been known.
The 45 people, out of 57 injured, who are now undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) are: Mahtab, 14, (ICU, bed-7), Masuma, 32, (ICU, bed 13), Mahiya, 15, (ICU, bed-14), Ayan, 14, (ICU, bed-15), Tasnuba Mahbin,11, (POW, bed-9), Farjana Yeasmin, 45, (POW, bed -10), Tasnia,10 (POW, bed -11), Sreya, 9, (POW, bed -12), Raisa,11, (POW, bed -13), Payel, 12, (POW, bed -14), teacher Nishi, 28, (POW, bed -15), Nusrat,12, (POW, bed -16), Toufik,13, (POW, bed -17), Eusha,11, (POW, bed -18), Zakir, 55, (POW, bed -19), Sayeba,9 , (POW, bed -20), Alvina, 10, (POW, bed -21), Muntaha, 10, (POW, bed -22), Rupi Borua,10, (POW, bed -23), teacher Ashraful Islam,37, (POW, bed -24) Jayana,13, (POW, bed -25), Niloy, 13, (POW, bed -26), teacher Sumaiya Lorin, 30, (POW, bed -27), Abidur Rahman, 10, (POW, bed -28), Kabbo, 13, (POW, bed -29), Kafi Ahmed 10, (POW, bed -30), Makin, 15, (MHDU, bed -04),Ariyan Afif,12, (MHDU, bed -06), Rohan,14, (MHDU, bed -27), Abidur Rahman, 10, (MHDU, bed -28), Samia,9, (FHDU, bed -09), Saiba Jahan, 10, (FHDU, bed -11), Tasnia, 15, (FHDU, bed -12), Mehrin,11, (FHDU, bed -13), Aiman, 10, (FHDU, bed -P6), Saira, 10, (FHDU, bed-P9), Hafsa Khan, 11, (FHDU, bed-P11), Md Ayan Khan, 12, (Emergency, bed-6), Kazi Ahmedf Sayed,20, (Emergency, bed-1), Raiyan, 14, (MHDU, bed-26), Jarif, 12, (ICU, bed-16), Sabuja Begum,40, (FHDU), teacher Mahfuza Khatun, 45, (ICU, bed-2), Navid Nawaz, 12, (ICU, bed-3), Saymon, 18, (ICU, bed-04), Rafsi,12 (POW, bed-20).
Eleven of the injured who are now undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital, are military master warrant officer (MWO) Ahosan, 51, (JCO Med), Bangladesh Army soldiers (SNKs) Shariar Sajib, 24, (Trauma Centre), Kamruzzaman, 27, (Trauma Centre) and Tasin Ahmed, 23, (Trauma Centre), PS to Milestone Principal Atik, 22, (Burn ICU), teacher Anowar Hossain, 37, (Burn ICU), student Akib, 12, (Burn ICU), S/O, CPO, Md Billal Hossain,12, (Burn ICU), student Taskir Rahman, 15, (Burn ICU), student Jannatul Mawa,10, (Burn ICU), and student Takrim Haque,16, (Trauma Centre).
However, student Meherun Nessa, 14, was undergoing treatment at Bed-53 under ward 503 of Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College Hospital.
