The Nepalese authorities have identified 28 bodies, including those of 17 Bangladeshis and one Chinese, from among the victims of the US-Bangla plane crash in Kathmandu on March 12. At a press briefing in Nepal yesterday (Saturday), Prof. Dr Sohel Mahmud, the head of the seven-member forensic team at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), confirmed the names of the dead persons. Pramod Shrestha, head of forensic of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, was also present.
“The relatives of the deceased, who are waiting in front of the mortuary In Nepal, would now be able to see the bodies,” said Dr Mahmud.
“The bodies were identified through fingerprint identification. The identities of the rest of the victims will be confirmed today (Sunday) with the help of the fingerprints,” he said. He also mentioned that if no identification occurred, DNA profiling will be conducted to ascertain their identities.
The Bangladeshis who have been identified are: Tahira Tanvin Shashi Reza, child Tamarra Prionmoyee, Md Rokibul Hasan, Bilkis Ara, Md Hasan Imam, Meenhaz Bin Nasir, Md Rafiquz Zaman, SM Mahmudur Rahman, Md Motiur Rahman, Akhtara Begum, Foysal Ahmed, Sanzida Haque, Md Nuruz Zaman, child Aniruddha Zaman, Abid Sultan (the pilot of the aircraft), Prithula Rashid (co-pilot) and Khwaja Saifullah (cabin crew member).
The bodies are currently kept at the morgue of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.
The bodies of the Bangladeshis who have been identified will be brought to the country on Tuesday, said Bangladesh’s foreign ministry officials at a press conference in Nepal on Friday.
Earlier, the DMCH formed a 13-member medical board to ensure better treatment of the injured persons who have been brought back from Khatmandu. DMCH Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit coordinator, Prof. Samanta Lal Sen, is the head of the 13-member board. The decision to form the board came after a press conference by Prof. Dr Abul Kalam Azad, director-general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), at DMCH yesterday (Saturday).
Dr Azad said those who are currently in Dhaka Medical
College are out of danger. "Yesterday we noticed that they had no major problem. However, they are in mental trauma. They need psychological support,” said the director.
He also said the present condition of the patients was not necessary to form a medical board but “we have formed a medical board for providing maximum attention”.
There are currently two injured victims in Nepal. One of them will be taken to New Delhi on Saturday after his relative makes a decision.
"The condition of the person who will be taken to New Delhi is comparatively poor, but we are not alarmed about his life expectancy. We have talked to Nepal with respect to his condition,” said Abul Kalam Azad.
“For the rest of the persons who will be in Nepal, his family members have expressed their desire for treatment in Nepal,” added Azad. He mentioned that seven doctors from Bangladesh are still in Nepal. “One of our doctors will be there for the injured victim.”
Meanwhile, Sheikh Rashed Rubayet, one of the injured victims of the US-Bangla plane crash, was brought to Dhaka on Saturday. Another survivor, Imrana Kabir Hashi, was flown to Singapore at night from Kathmandu.
A Biman Bangladesh flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with Rubayet at noon. From the airport, he was directly taken to the burns unit of DMCH.
Again, Imrana Kabir Hashi, who was being treated at the ICU of Norvic International Hospital in Kathmandu with 30 per cent burn injuries, will be flown tonight to Singapore for better treatment, the official said. Her husband Rakibul died in the crash.
Earlier, Mehedi Hasan and his wife Saiyada Kamrunnahar Shwarna and Almun Nahar Annie were brought to DMCH on Friday. Another survivor, Shahreen, came back on Thursday. They are currently undergoing treatment in separate cabins of DMCH’s Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit.