Bangladesh Mourns After Plane Crash Kills 31, Wounds 165

The tragedy at the Milestone School and College in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, left a nation in shock as 31 people, most of whom were schoolchildren, lost their lives when a fighter jet flipped in midair and crashed into their building. The disaster has sparked a national outpouring of grief, with many calling for the government to reveal the true number of casualties.

Key Takeaways:

• At least 31 people were killed in the plane crash, including the pilot, with most of the victims being schoolchildren.
• An additional 165 people were wounded, with 78 receiving treatment across various hospitals, many in critical condition.
• The bodies of 20 victims have been handed over to their families, while some 78 people are still receiving treatment.
• The incident has led to a national day of mourning, with Bangladesh declaring the day of the crash a "day of mourning."
• The government has denied claims that the number of casualties is being hidden, stating that the claim is "not true."
• The disaster has sparked concerns about the country's air safety, with mechanical failure cited as the cause of the accident.
• The incident has also highlighted the country's political instability, with patience for the interim government waning.

Statistics:

• 31 people killed, including the pilot
• 165 people wounded
• 78 people receiving treatment across various hospitals
• 20 bodies handed over to their families
• The plane, a Chinese-built F-7 BGI, had taken off 12 minutes before the crash from a military air base less than two miles from the school.
• The main campus of the Milestone School serves about 10,000 students.

Sources:

• Abu Sayed Mohammad Waliullah, a teacher at the school, who witnessed the crash.
• Sayedur Rahman, a special assistant to Muhammad Yunus, the leader of Bangladesh's interim government.
• The Bangladesh military, which issued a statement on the incident.
• The Associated Press.
• Agence France-Presse.