Take preventative measures to avert air crash: PM

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DHAKA, March 14, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked
authorities concerned to take preventive measures to avoid air crashes like
US-Bangla Airlines plane in future.

While chairing a high-level emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s
Office here this morning, the prime minister also directed the ministries and
divisions concerned and the airlines operators to follow properly the
international aviation safety regulations.

“She (PM) also put emphasis on further strengthening the capabilities of
all to tackle such situations,” PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman
told reporters emerging from the meeting.

The principal secretary said the prime minister requested the countrymen
to have patience at this time, describing the crash as a big “accident for
us”.

She mourned for the passengers, the pilots and crew of the craft and two
Planning Commission officials, saying they were part of “our meritorious
community”.

Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to ensure proper
treatment of those who were admitted to different hospitals in Nepal.

The premier, he said, also directed authorities to extend assistance for
the burn wounded Nepalese nationals of the craft as Bangladesh has better
facilities for burn injury patients.

Rahman said the prime minister was deeply shocked at the loss of lives and
property and it was reflected in her video message that she sent from
Singapore ahead of returning home cutting short her overseas tour.

The meeting, he said, took an important decision to observe “State
Mourning Day” tomorrow in view of the Monday’s aviation tragedy when the
private US- Bangla craft crashed in Nepal claiming over 50 lives.

The principal secretary said according to the decision national flag would
be kept half-mast throughout the day while mosques and other places of
worships like temples, churches and pagodas across the country were asked to
stage prayers on Friday to seek eternal peace of those who died in the crash
and for early recovery of the injured.

While delivering her introductory address at a meeting of the Awami League
in the evening, the prime minister described the US-Bangla Airlines plane
crash in Nepal as “very unfortunate” and asked her party leaders and workers
to stand beside the families of the crash victims.

“I’ve already directed our leaders and workers to communicate with the
families of the plane crash victims and convey our sympathy to them … we’re
making efforts to help them,” she told the joint meeting of the party
presidium, advisory council, the Central Working Committee and associate
bodies at her official Ganabhaban residence.

She said that AL leaders and activists will inquire about the present
condition of the families of the plane crash victims and find out a way how
the party could help them.

The prime minister said nearly 51 people including Bangladesh, Nepalese,
Chinese and Maldivian nationals were killed in the crash which is very
unfortunate.

She also said that two officials of the Planning Commission, some students
of a private medical college in Sylhet and a member of CRI (Centre for
Research and Information) team died in the plane crash.

“Some flowers have dropped before blooming,” she said in an emotion charged
voice.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that she returned to the country yesterday evening
curtailing her official tour to Singapore.

“From Singapore I talked to the Nepalese prime minister just after the
incident,” she said.

She pointed out that Bangladesh is sending a medical team for the better
treatment of the injured.

“We’re also sending another team to collect DNA sample of the victims for
their identification,” she said.

The premier also said that after the incident the Nepal authority very
quickly started their rescue operation.