The National Citizen Party on Tuesday vehemently criticised the interim government鈥檚 handling of the plane crash at Milestone School in Uttara.
The party convener Nahid Islam, addressing a press conference at the party鈥檚 temporary office in the capital鈥檚 Banglamotor area, accused the government of irresponsibility and poor coordination amid a national crisis that had deeply traumatised the country.
He said that the entire nation was in shock and mourning the deaths, and the government had failed to respond with the sensitivity and urgency the situation demanded.
NCP expressed solidarity with the six-point demands raised by the students of Milestone College, describing the demands as very reasonable and urging the government to implement them without any delay.
Nahid said that several incidents had taken place throughout the day, including one at the secretariat.
He alleged that misleading information was being spread from certain social media pages linked to the Awami League, while members of a banned Chhatra League were seen in the area.
鈥業f the government and its advisers had acted responsibly and made timely decisions, this situation would not have spiralled out of control,鈥� he said.
Nahid said that they observed some advisers acting with extreme irresponsibility.
He mentioned that it was around 3:00am or 4:00am on Tuesday when they learnt that the HSC examinations would have to be postponed, and at that time, other advisers had been unable to reach the education adviser by phone.
鈥楾his indicates a serious breakdown in coordination within the administration during a national emergency,鈥� he said.
Nahid said that those currently serving as advisers, particularly the education adviser who had acted irresponsibly the previous night, should have apologised to the nation.
Instead, it was regrettable that he appeared at the college the next morning without any such acknowledgement, the NCP convener said.
On Monday, a Bangladesh Air Force training plane crashed into a building at Milestone School and College at Uttara. So far, 31 people have died and 165 have been injured, most of them children who were students there.
Referring to the growing rumours about attempts to suppress information regarding casualties, Nahid urged the government to ensure full transparency.
He said that people had a right to know how many students, staff, and teachers had been present at the time of the incident, and how many had been killed or injured.
He warned that the lack of clear information was fuelling misinformation and public anxiety.
The NCP called for adequate medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation for the injured people, emphasising that many of the victims were children who could suffer lasting trauma.
The party also demanded a high-level impartial investigation into the cause of the crash, with the inclusion of independent experts and representatives from the school.
Nahid said that it was not a time for political point-scoring and urged all political parties, civil society organisations, and citizens to stand by the victims鈥� families and the affected students.
The NCP suspended its pre-scheduled march considering the national mourning and the evolving situation.
Nahid said that a decision regarding the programme would be announced later after reviewing the circumstances.
NCP member secretary Akter Hossain and senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara also spoke.
