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The government has formed a nine-member inquiry commission to investigate the crash of a BAF training aircraft into a school in Uttara, which left at least 34 people dead.
The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification in this regard on Sunday.
The commission has been tasked with investigating the causes, background, and accountability surrounding the Bangladesh Air Force's (BAF) fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College on July 21.
Former secretary AKM Zafar Ullah Khan will lead the commission. He has been directed to submit its report within four weeks.
Other members of the commission include: Air Vice Marshal (retd.) M Sayed Hossain, former assistant chief of Air Staff (Administration); one additional secretary each from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; the divisional commissioner of Dhaka; Professor Adil Muhammad Khan, urban planner; Professor Md Ashiqur Rahman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at BUET; and Barrister Ashraf Ali. The office of the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner will provide secretarial support to the commission.
It will assess the loss of lives, injuries to students, teachers, and others and evaluate all forms of damages caused by the aviation accident.
Besides, the commission will also examine the legality and administrative aspects of constructing establishments like the Milestone School and College and other buildings near the airport.
It will assess the safety of the flying zone and determine whether such developments comply with regulations.
The committee will also make recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future, including measures related to training flights, construction within flying zones, and emergency response protocols.
According to the gazette, the commission has the authority to visit any location in the country and summon, or, question any individual as part of its investigation.
Meanwhile, a student injured in the jet crash succumbed to his injuries on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Sahil Farabi Ayan, 14, a seventh-grade student of the Milestone's English version, passed away in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) around 1:45 am.
Resident surgeon at the institute Dr Shawon Bin Rahman said that Sahil was on life support and died around 1:45 am on the day.
He said Sahil suffered burns on 40 per cent of his body.
With his death, the toll at the burn institute from the incident has risen to 18. So far, 34 people have been reported dead following the jet crash.
NIBPS Acting Director Nasir Uddin told the media on Monday that 33 patients are now undergoing treatment at the institute.
He said that the conditions of three patients were critical.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com