Govt has no reason to underreport jet crash death toll: Shafiqul

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has dismissed allegations of underreporting the death toll from the military jet crash at Milestone School and College, calling the claims baseless and insisting that such concealment is “virtually impossible” in Bangladesh.

In a post on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Alam said the government is committed to full transparency regarding the tragedy, which has sparked widespread grief and student protests across the capital.

“The government has no reason to underreport casualty figures,” he wrote. “As someone who has reported on numerous major disasters between 2002 and 2024, I can attest that concealing casualty figures is virtually impossible in Bangladesh.”

Alam explained that in such incidents, families quickly report missing persons, while hospitals and authorities provide updates that allow identification. In this case, he added, Milestone College is also able to verify students through daily attendance records.

He noted that the Health Ministry is providing regular updates on those injured and undergoing treatment in hospitals, with the military also contributing to coordination efforts.

To ensure accurate information, the Chief Adviser’s office has instructed Milestone School and College to establish a Control Room on its campus. According to Alam, this facility will provide regular updates on casualties, matched against official school records.

“The Advisers recommended involving current students and alumni in running the Control Room. We expect it to be fully operational by today,” he stated.

Alam and two advisers spent nine hours at the Uttara-based school on Tuesday to meet grieving families and students. He said the team chose to remain on site until tensions eased peacefully.

> “Although we could have left earlier, the Advisers were determined to resolve the situation without any use of force. We only left once it was appropriate,” he said.

The visit followed student-led protests demanding clear and accurate information about the number of deaths and injuries. Alam described the atmosphere at the school as “heavy with grief and anger,” with many students sharing emotional firsthand accounts.

“Many expressed frustration over conflicting reports about the death toll,” he added.

Describing the crash as a “national tragedy,” Alam expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life, referring to the victims as “martyrs.”

He also called for collective efforts to strengthen national air defence systems to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“The government is committed to improving national security and ensuring zero air-related disasters,” he said.