Traumatised and scarred for life

Three Bangladeshi survivors of the US-Bangla Airlines plane crash have returned home, leaving behind the languished land of Nepal that snapped their life with pain of loss and trauma.

Mehedi Hasan, Saiyada Kamrunnahar Shwarna and Almun Nahar Annie were brought back to Dhaka in a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 3:45pm and immediately hospitalised.

"They aren't out of danger," Dr Samanta Lal Sen, national coordinator of burn unit, said at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). "They suffered injuries to the inner throat caused from smoke. Also, they all are suffering from the trauma of the crash."

Saiyada Kamrunnahar Shwarna, one of three Bangladeshi survivors of the US-Bangla plane, is being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on March 16, 2018. Photo: Palash Khan

The hospital has constituted a medical board for their treatment. It will sit on Sunday to discuss on the treatment for quick recovery of the survivors.

Meanwhile, a source at Biman Bangladesh Airlines told The Daily Star that three more crash – survivors Kabir Hossain, Shaheen bepari and Rashed Ahmed – may be coming back home next Sunday.

Earlier, the first crash survivor to return back home was Shahreen Ahmed. She was brought back yesterday and hospitalized at the burn unit of DMCH.

Mehedi Hasan, one of three Bangladeshi survivors of the US-Bangla plane, is being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after they return home on March 16, 2018. Photo: Palash Khan

BACK, AS SURVIVORS OF A RIPPED-APART FAMILY

FH Priok, his wife Annie, their child Tamarra Prionmoyee, his cousin Mehedi, and Mehedi's wife Shwarna were all on board the ill-fated US-Bangla Airlines plane Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 as part of a family trip.

The child died during the crash, and Priok a few days later.

But Annie has not been told that.

"We have told her that her husband and daughter have been flown to Singapore for better treatment," Mahbub Alam, a paternal cousin to Mehedi, told The Daily Star. "She is looking for her child and husband every five minutes, and it is nearly impossible to keep her."

Now, Annie is at DMCH with fracture injury to her right leg. Mehedi is suffering from pain at the back of his shoulders. Ahwarna is suffering from pelvic pain, Dr Samanta Lal says.

They will need at least six weeks to overcome the trauma, he adds.

8 BANGLADESHI BODIES IDENTIFIED

Bodies of eight Bangladeshi crash victims have been identified so far, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal has said.

Their faces were still recognisable, the minister told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after the return of the second batch of survivors. "We need DNA tests for identifying the others."

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A return no one ever expects

The  Bombardier Dash 8 of US-Bangla with 71 people slammed on an empty field and burst into flames at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal on Monday.

At least 28 Bangladeshis were among the dead. The country yesterday observed a day of mourning.

The tally of 51 dead of the crashed US-Bangla Airlines plane include 28 Bangladeshis. Most of the dead victims have been burned beyond recognition.

"The faces of the other dead Bangladeshis have been burned beyond recognition," the minister said.