Doctors have stated that the condition of six people burned in the air force fighter plane crash into Milestone School and College in Uttara of Dhaka is critical.
In another development13 patients have been moved to cabin care due to some improvement in their physical condition.
Dr Nasir Uddin shared this information during a press conference at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on Thursday night. Senior doctors of the institute were also present at the time.
Expressing grief over the deaths of two students under treatment on Thursday, Dr Nasir said, “Currently, 42 patients are still admitted. Among them, eight—including six in critical condition—have been placed in the ICU.”
As the condition of 13 patients has improved significantly, they have been moved to cabin care. Plans are underway to discharge them soon, and they will need to return later for follow-up treatment, he added.
Dr. Nasir Uddin further said, “A medical team from India arrived on Thursday. In addition, we held another meeting with a medical team from Singapore who arrived on Wednesday. A virtual meeting was also held with medical specialists from China. The patients are being treated in coordination with these expert teams, including the health advisor.”
He mentioned that the global community has extended a helping hand to treat these young children.
Earlier in the day, an 18-year-old student named Saimon, who did not suffer any burns, was transferred to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Meanwhile, two students who sustained severe burn injuries in the devastating aircraft crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara succumbed to their injuries on Thursday, raising the death toll at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery to 13.
The deceased were identified as Mahtab Rahman Bhuiyan, 13, a seventh-grade student of the school’s English version, and Mahiya Tasnim, 15, an eighth-grade student.
Dr Shaon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon at the Burn Institute, confirmed the deaths. He said Mahtab had suffered 85 percent burns, including critical damage to his trachea. Despite intensive treatment, he died in the ICU at around 1:50 PM on Thursday.
Mahiya had sustained 50 percent burns, also with tracheal damage. Despite receiving continued care in the ICU, she passed away around 4:30 PM, the surgeon added.
Mahtab was the only son of Minhazur Rahman Bhuiyan from Chulash Bhuiyan Bari in Debidwar upazila of Comilla. The family resides in Uttara. His father said he had gone to pick Mahtab up from school on Monday when the tragedy occurred. Mahtab was severely burned in the explosion and was rescued by army personnel before being taken to the hospital.
Mahiya’s family lives in Block D of the Rajuk Project in Sector 18, Uttara. Her father, Mohammad Biswas, died five years ago. Since then, her mother, Afroza Khatun—a housewife—along with her aunt, had been raising Mahiya and her two sisters.
Relatives and neighbours at the hospital expressed deep grief, remembering both students as bright, kind-hearted, and full of potential.
On July 21, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Uttara.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Office of the Chief Adviser released a list confirming the identities of 22 deceased individuals, placing the official death toll at 29. However, other government agencies have reported differing figures, leaving families and the public in uncertainty.
According to a statement signed by Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, director at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 22 victims—17 of them children—have been identified and their bodies handed over to
families. The list includes several young students aged between 9 and 14.
Named among the children are: Bappi (9), Nafi (9), Samiul Karim, Saad Salauddin, Saima Akter, Fatema Akter, Minhaj Arefin, Humaira, Zunaid, Nusrat Jahan Anika (10), Umair Nur Ashfiq (11), Erikson (13), Arian (13), Nazia (13), Saria Akter (13), Tanvir (14), and Afnan Faiyaz (14).
The five adults listed include: Flight Lieutenant Md Tawkir Islam (pilot), Masuka (37), Rajoni Islam (37), and Mahrin (46).