Dhakar, July 22 . The death toll from yesterday’s Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College in Dhaka has risen to 27, with 25 of the victims confirmed to be children, many of them under the age of 12.
At least 78 people are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals, with five in critical condition, according to Professor Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for health and family welfare. He briefed the media today morning at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
“Among the deceased, 25 are children with severe burn injuries. The remaining two include the pilot of the aircraft and a female schoolteacher,” Rahman stated.
So far, 20 bodies have been identified and handed over to their families.
The devastating incident occurred when a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a school building during operational exercises yesterday. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as parents rushed to the site and emergency services worked frantically to rescue the injured.
Hospital authorities confirmed that army personnel have now been deployed at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery to enhance security and manage the large influx of relatives and onlookers.
“We are doing everything possible to save lives. However, the condition of some patients remains extremely critical,” Prof. Rahman added.
The country’s interim leader, Mohammed Yunus, expressed “deep grief and sorrow” over the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable,” he said.
“This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.”
Yunus’s office also released a list of emergency phone numbers and helplines for affected families.
. . PRS
