As the nation mourns the devastating loss of lives from Monday’s jet crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara, questions are now being raised about the government’s response — particularly its announcement to bring in foreign doctors for treating the injured.
Following his visit to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS), Professor Asif Nazrul, Special Adviser on Legal Affairs to the Chief Adviser, told reporters, “Today is a day of national mourning. This kind of tragedy is rare in our history. The pain is beyond words.”
He assured that the government would spare no effort in saving the lives of the injured students: “There will be no shortage in treatment. If needed, expert doctors will be brought in from abroad. If necessary, the critically injured will be sent overseas for better care.”
However, this statement drew a strong and public rebuttal from Dr. Sakhlayen Russel, a physician at the very institution where the children are being treated.
In a sharply worded Facebook post, Dr. Sakhlayen wrote:
“Dear Sir,
Please stop these publicity stunts…
Otherwise, we might have to propose bringing foreign advisers as well.
InshaAllah, we are more than capable of treating these children properly.
What you need to do is ensure they don’t get burned in the first place.
Loud and clear.”
His remarks, now widely shared on social media, reflect the frustration felt by many in the country’s public health sector, especially among doctors working on the frontlines without adequate resources or recognition. Dr. Sakhlayen’s statement has sparked discussions about misplaced priorities — with critics arguing that gestures of flying in foreign help often serve more as political optics than practical solutions.
Meanwhile, the tragedy has claimed at least 20 lives, with over 170 injured, the majority being young students. The crash — involving a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft — left the Milestone campus engulfed in smoke and fire shortly after the plane lost control and hit a school building.
As rescue efforts continue and families grieve, medical professionals like Dr. Sakhlayen are calling not for imported expertise, but for structural accountability, long-term investment in public hospitals, and a renewed respect for the country’s own trained specialists.
