"We personally recovered 20–25 bodies, but army officers reported only 2–3" – Rover Scout Nitul Chowdhury on concealment of death toll in Dhaka plane crash
[Dhaka, Bangladesh – July 22, 2025] — A deadly crash involving a Bangladesh Air Force training jet at Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara has sparked widespread public outrage and controversy over allegations that the actual number of casualties is being concealed.
Rover Scout in-charge and eyewitness Nitul Chowdhury, who participated in the rescue operation, claimed that he personally recovered 20 to 25 bodies. “While we were at the scene, we got information from hospitals that the death toll was at least 50 to 100,” he said. “But in the early phase of the incident, army officials claimed only 2 or 3 people had died.”
“We saw the bodies — the army is hiding the numbers,” alleges the Rover Scout
According to Nitul Chowdhury,
“I reached the site within just 20 minutes of the crash. It was us—the students—who initially worked to control the fire, tend to the injured, and recover the dead. But when journalists attempted to report the number of casualties, army officers attacked them. My friends, journalists Shafayet and Mahir, were beaten, and I was assaulted as well.”
He further stated,
“Our principal, Mr. Ziaul Alam, and the vice principal were also subjected to baton charges. After working all day in the rescue operation, we were suddenly labeled a ‘crowd’ and attacked. Yet we had been assisting them from the very beginning.”
Government response: “Allegations are baseless”
In response to these claims, the interim government of Bangladesh rejected the allegations as “baseless, false, and politically motivated.”
An official Facebook post from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing stated:
“The government, along with the army, school authorities, and hospitals, is working jointly to identify the victims. Lists of the deceased are being prepared, and DNA tests are underway.”
The post also warned:
“Please refrain from spreading rumors. Legal action will be taken against those who seek to cause confusion during this difficult time.”
Official toll: 31 dead, 78 injured
At a morning briefing held at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute on the same day, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr. Sayedur Rahman said,
“The current death toll stands at 31. Seventy-eight injured are receiving treatment, many of them in critical condition.”
He added,
“Twenty bodies have already been handed over to families. Efforts are ongoing to gather information about the missing. Anyone still searching for loved ones should contact the control room at Milestone School.”
Human rights groups express concern
Meanwhile, human rights activists have raised concerns over the reported obstruction of journalists and use of force against students. They are calling for an impartial investigation into the incident.
Public reaction on social media: outrage and sympathy
Testimonies from injured Rover members have gone viral on social media, with many users questioning:
“If Nitul Chowdhury personally recovered 20 to 25 bodies, then why—16 hours after his account—was the official death toll still only 31? And what kind of rescue operation was the government conducting in the dead of night with police and ambulances on campus?”
Many are demanding a clear and credible explanation from the authorities.
