Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Sunday extended his deep gratitude to international medical teams from India, Singapore, and China for their swift and dedicated assistance in treating victims of the recent plane crash at Milestone School and College in Dhaka.
A delegation of 21 doctors and nurses from the three countries met with the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna. Their arrival followed the July 21 crash of a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI fighter jet into a school campus in Dhaka’s Uttara neighbourhood, which left at least 27 dead and over 170 injured—many of them children.
“These teams have come not just with their skills, but with their hearts,” said Professor Yunus. “Their presence reaffirms our shared humanity and the value of global partnerships in times of tragedy.”
He praised the visiting teams for their tireless collaboration with local healthcare professionals to deliver critical trauma care and life-saving treatment. He also commended the swift diplomatic efforts that enabled their immediate deployment.
Yunus encouraged the foreign physicians to maintain long-term ties with Bangladesh through virtual collaboration, medical training exchanges, and joint innovation in emergency healthcare preparedness. “Such partnerships can lay the foundation for lasting cooperation in public health,” he said.
Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum also expressed her thanks, while Professor Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser, noted that “many lives were saved” thanks to the quick arrival of the international teams.
Prof Dr Md. Nasir Uddin, Director of the National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery, echoed this sentiment, saying, “It has been proven again that doctors are without borders.”
The medical delegation included 10 members from Singapore, eight from China, and four from India. Also present were Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen and the Singapore Head of Mission in Dhaka.
Following the crash, Bangladesh’s interim government declared July 22 a national day of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast across government offices and educational institutions.
