Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor on Health Affairs, briefing at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery today. Photo: PID

DHAKA, July 22, 2025 (BSS) - The authorities have so far handed over 20 bodies to the families of the 27 people killed in the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) FT-7 BGI fighter jet at Milestone School and College in the capital's Uttara on Monday afternoon.

"Twenty seven people have died so far in the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft at the Milestone School and College campus in Uttara. Of the injured, 78 people are undergoing treatment at various hospitals," said Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health and Family Welfare. 
 
He was briefing newsmen at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery this morning. 

Dr Sayedur confirmed that among the deceased were 25 children, one pilot and one teacher. The identities of six victims remain unconfirmed, while 20 bodies have been handed over to families after proper identification.

He requested all not to crowd at the hospital, saying, "We need little blood. Those with negative blood groups will have to come in a few."
 
Twelve of the victims whose bodies have been handed over to families were identified as: Fatema Akhter, 9, daughter of Gani Sheikh of Bagerhat; Samiul Karim, 9 of Barishal; Rajoni Islam, 37 of Kushtia; Mehnaz Afrin Huraira, 9 of Tangail; Sharia Akhter, 13, daughter of Rafique Mollah of Dhaka; Nusrat Jahan Anika, 10, of Dhaka; Saad Salauddin, 9, son of Mukul Salauddin of Dhaka's Mirpur; Saima Akhter, 9, daughter of Shah Alam, of Gazipur; AB Shamim, 14; Afnan, 14; Tanvir, 14 and Milestone School and College teacher Maherin Chowdhury, 46. 
 
The body of Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam has been kept at the morgue.
 
The ISPR earlier confirmed that 171 people were also injured in the crash.
 
In addition, two firefighters suffered injuries while they were conducting rescue operations. But, they are now out of danger, fire service sources said.
 
The Fire Service and Civil Defence wrapped up the rescue operation at 8:30pm on Monday.
 
The aircraft crash took place due to mechanical fault (the details of which will be disclosed after investigation) after taking off from the Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola at 01:06pm on Monday as part of a regular training, the ISPR said.
 
The FT-7 jet crashed into a building of Milestone School and College around 1:18pm on Monday, fire service sources said
 
The ISPR said Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam, the pilot of the aircraft, made every effort to steer it away from a densely populated area to a sparsely populated one in order to mitigate the impact of the crash and prevent major damage.
 
A high-level investigation committee of the Air Force was formed on Monday immediately after the crash to find out the cause of the accident, it added.
 
The government has postponed today's (Tuesday's) HSC and equivalent examinations and all the examinations under the National University following the crash.
 
An emergency hotline number 01949-043697 has been launched at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery following the jet crash.
 
Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus expressed deep shock and sorrow at the casualties in the jet crash and assured of an investigation into the matter.
 
He also assured proper treatment to the injured.

The government has asked all public and private hospitals to provide free treatment to those who were injured in the crash
 
Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum gave necessary directives to all public and private hospitals in this regard, said a press release.