Confusion continues to grow over the actual death toll from the Milestone School and College tragedy, as conflicting figures emerge from different government bodies.
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).
Photo: Shamim-us-Salehin / TIMES
The statement also notes that six bodies were charred beyond recognition, and one remains unidentified.
In contrast, a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday stated that 31 people had died in the incident.
Later that evening, the Ministry of Health reported another fatality—a nine-year-old child, Arya Nashraf Nafi, who succumbed to injuries in hospital—raising the presumed death toll to 32.
The ISPR’s report also detailed death counts by hospital and provided updated figures on those injured, highlighting discrepancies with the list issued by the Office of the Chief Adviser. These inconsistencies have caused widespread concern and distress among grieving families.
Dr Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser on health, has urged the families of missing persons to visit the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office in Malibagh to provide DNA samples.
He noted that only one family has done so thus far, hampering the identification of six unclaimed bodies currently being held at the CMH morgue.
“DNA samples from these unidentified bodies have already been collected under forensic supervision. The analysis will soon be conducted at the CID laboratory,” Dr Rahman said, appealing for greater public cooperation.
The fatal incident occurred on Monday afternoon when a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College building in Dhaka’s Uttara area, triggering a devastating fire. Preliminary investigations suggest that structural collapse and fire contributed to the high number of casualties.
A formal inquiry is now underway, jointly led by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
As the nation mourns, candlelight vigils and memorial services are being held across the country, while families continue to search for answers—and closure—in the wake of one of the deadliest peacetime tragedies in recent memory.