Govt has no reason to hide jet crash death toll: CA’s Press Secretary
NN Online:
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Wednesday dismissed allegations that the government is concealing the true number of casualties from the tragic plane crash at Milestone School and College, calling such claims baseless and unhelpful.
In a Facebook post, Alam stated, “There is no reason for the government to underreport the casualties. In today’s Bangladesh, hiding death tolls is virtually impossible.” Drawing on his experience covering disasters from 2002 to 2024, he explained that missing persons are quickly accounted for through family reports, hospital records, and official channels. In this case, Milestone School can also verify absences through its daily attendance records, he noted.
Alam said the Health Ministry is releasing regular updates on those injured and undergoing treatment, with support from the military. “I can confidently say that the government has no motive to suppress casualty numbers,” he reiterated.
He also thanked everyone who had sent prayers and support after he and two government advisers—Asif Nazrul and CR Abrar—spent nine tense hours at Milestone School on Tuesday amid student protests.
“Our visit was to offer support to grieving families, and to speak with students and teachers devastated by the crash,” he said. “Many expressed confusion and anger over conflicting casualty figures.”
To ensure transparency, Alam said the Advisers instructed the school to set up a Control Room that will provide regular, verified updates on the injured and deceased, based on the school’s registry. Significantly, current students and alumni will be included in its operations. “We expect the Control Room to be fully operational by today,” he said.
Recounting their extended stay at the school, he emphasized that the advisers were committed to a peaceful resolution. “Although we could have left earlier, they chose to remain until the situation was calm and under control, without the use of force.”
Calling the jet crash a national tragedy, Alam referred to the deceased as martyrs and expressed deep condolences to their families and the school community.
He concluded by urging collective efforts to strengthen Bangladesh’s air defence capabilities, saying, “We must work together to prevent such disasters in the future. The government is committed to improving aviation safety and national security.”
