PM Sheikh Hasina directs officials to treat the injured Bangladeshis and Nepalis in Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked authorities concerned to take preventive measures to avoid air crashes like US-Bangla Airlines plane in future.

While chairing a high-level emergency meeting at the Prime Minister's Office here this morning, the prime minister also directed the ministries and divisions concerned and the airline operators to follow properly the international aviation safety regulations. 

"She (PM) also put emphasis on further strengthening the capabilities of all to tackle such situations," PM's Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman told reporters emerging from the meeting. 

The principal secretary said the prime minister requested the countrymen to have patience at this time, describing the crash as a big "accident for us". 

She mourned for the passengers, the pilots and crew of the craft and two Planning Commission officials, saying they were part of "our meritorious community". 

Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment of those who were admitted to different hospitals in Nepal. 

The premier, he said, also directed authorities to extend assistance for the burn wounded Nepalese nationals of the craft as Bangladesh has better facilities for burn injury patients. 

Rahman said the prime minister was deeply shocked at the loss of lives and property and it was reflected in her video message that she sent from Singapore ahead of returning home cutting short her overseas tour. 

The meeting, he said, took an important decision to observe "State Mourning Day" tomorrow in view of the Monday's aviation tragedy when the private US- Bangla craft crashed in Nepal claiming over 50 lives. 

The principal secretary said according to the decision national flag would be kept half-mast throughout the day while mosques and other places of worships like temples, churches and pagodas across the country were asked to stage prayers on Friday to seek eternal peace of those who died in the crash and for early recovery of the injured. 

While delivering her introductory address at a meeting of the Awami League in the evening, the prime minister described the US-Bangla Airlines plane crash in Nepal as "very unfortunate" and asked her party leaders and workers to stand beside the families of the crash victims. 

"I've already directed our leaders and workers to communicate with the families of the plane crash victims and convey our sympathy to them ... we're making efforts to help them," she told the joint meeting of the party presidium, advisory council, the Central Working Committee and associate bodies at her official Ganabhaban residence. 

She said that AL leaders and activists will inquire about the present condition of the families of the plane crash victims and find out a way how the party could help them. 

The prime minister said nearly 51 people including Bangladesh, Nepalese, Chinese and Maldivian nationals were killed in the crash which is very unfortunate. 

She also said that two officials of the Planning Commission, some students of a private medical college in Sylhet and a member of CRI (Centre for Research and Information) team died in the plane crash. 

"Some flowers have dropped before blooming," she said in an emotion-charged voice. 

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that she returned to the country yesterday evening curtailing her official tour to Singapore.

"From Singapore, I talked to the Nepalese prime minister just after the incident," she said. 

She pointed out that Bangladesh is sending a medical team for the better treatment of the injured. 

"We're also sending another team to collect DNA sample of the victims for their identification," she said. 

The premier also said that after the incident the Nepal authority very quickly started their rescue operation.