Milestone jet crash: Death toll rises to 32, dozens in critical condition
Published: 23 July 2025, 2:09:50
The death toll from the devastating Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) jet crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara has climbed to 32, with dozens more in critical condition due to severe burns, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the Ministry of Health.
A nine-year-old boy, Nafi, who suffered 95 percent burns, died early Wednesday at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, bringing the confirmed fatalities to 32. Many of the injured, including children, remain in intensive care, with at least 40 in critical condition.
Earlier, on Monday night, ISPR reported 20 deaths, but hospital sources later confirmed at least two additional fatalities the same night. By noon Tuesday, ISPR updated the toll to 31, while the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) listed 27 deaths on its website, 23 of them children, sparks confusion across the country.
Health Ministry officials acknowledged discrepancies due to overlapping reports from multiple hospitals. Some bodies were unidentifiable due to burns, and a few were transferred between facilities, leading to temporary data mismatches. However, officials expect the figures to stabilize as identifications and verifications continue.
Amid the confusion, several families are still searching for missing loved ones. Aminul Islam, father of a Milestone third grader, was seen checking morgues and hospitals for his wife Lamia Akter Sonia, who went missing during the crash. She had gone to pick up their daughter, who survived.
“I found my daughter safe, but I haven’t seen my wife since the explosion. I’ve searched every hospital in Uttara,” Aminul told reporters, holding back tears.
The uncertainty over the official death toll sparked anger and protest among students and families. On Tuesday, Milestone College students staged demonstrations with six key demands, foremost among them the immediate release of an accurate list of the deceased and injured.
In response, the government announced it would fulfill the demands, including the identification and dignified burial of victims. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus designated a burial site at the Uttara-12 city corporation cemetery near the crash site. The area will later be preserved in memory of the victims.
ISPR reports that at least 165 people were injured in the crash. Burn victims are being treated at 10 hospitals, including 46 at the Burn Institute, 60 at Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital, and 28 at CMH.
Medical sources say many of the injured have suffered burns over more than 50 percent of their bodies or have damage to their airways due to inhaling hot gases. As of Tuesday, 30 patients were in critical condition, with 10 in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
Specialist doctors from Singapore are expected to arrive soon to assist with treatment. The Burn Institute has an MoU with Singapore General Hospital, and three medical personnel — including a senior consultant — are en route to Dhaka, said Professor Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser.
Foreign countries including China, India, and Japan have also offered emergency medical support and requested a list of Bangladesh’s urgent needs to assist in treating the injured.
