Uncertainty continues to swirl around the official death toll from the tragic July 21 jet crash at Milestone School and College, after a revised statement from the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka, exposed serious discrepancies in earlier figures released by law enforcement agencies.
The shifting numbers have sparked public outrage and raised urgent questions about the coordination between police, medical authorities, and the Ministry of Health.
On Sunday, a new official list reduced the death toll to 34, down from Saturday’s count of 35. The change has caused confusion and distress among the families of the victims and the public.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a list confirming 35 deaths. But within 24 hours, it issued a revised list showing 34 confirmed fatalities, further fueling skepticism over the government’s handling of casualty reporting.
Meanwhile, a separate statement from CMH highlighted inconsistencies in earlier body counts conducted by police.
According to CMH, a total of 15 body bags were received at the CMH Dhaka mortuary on July 21. These included, 11 complete bodies, 2 incomplete bodies, 5 sets of body parts
Turag Police initially documented all 11 complete bodies as deceased individuals. However, only 9 were identified and claimed by relatives. On July 21, 8 bodies were handed over to claimants, with another handed over on July 22.
The 2 unidentified bodies, along with the 2 incomplete ones and 5 sets of dismembered remains, were sent for DNA analysis by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Samples were collected on July 22.
Following DNA testing, CID confirmed that the remains belonged to 5 additional individuals. These were returned to family members on the night of July 24, according to Turag Police.
Authorities have since acknowledged that the earlier, higher death count may have stemmed from duplicate counting, in which incomplete remains were mistakenly logged as separate victims.
On Saturday, officials at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery confirmed that two students injured in the Milestone School crash — Ayan Khan and Rafsi, both aged 12 — were discharged after significant recovery.
“They made steady progress and were released around noon,” said Professor Dr Nasir Uddin, director of the institute, during a press briefing held at 2:45 PM.
However, the day also brought more heartbreak. Masuma Begum (36) and Zarif Farhan (13), who had sustained critical burn injuries, succumbed to their wounds earlier Saturday morning.
As of Saturday afternoon, 36 patients remained hospitalized.
“Four are in critical condition in the ICU, nine are under close observation in the CBR unit, and the remaining are in general wards,” Dr Nasir said.
He added that the hospital is preparing to release at least 10 more patients over the next week, depending on their progress.
The crash occurred shortly after 1:00 PM on July 21, when an Air Force F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into a section of Milestone School and College, causing massive damage and injuring dozens of students and staff.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, with early indications suggesting possible mechanical failure or pilot error. The incident has prompted widespread demands for accountability and improved safety measures around educational institutions located near military flight paths.