Dhaka School Jet Crash Sparks Protests After 31 Deaths in Bangladesh's Capital - National Mourns
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Dhaka School Jet Crash Sparks Protests After 31 Deaths in Bangladesh’s Capital – National Mourns

Bangladesh Mourns as Air Force Training Jet Crash at Dhaka School Kills 31, Including 25 Students

Dhaka, Bangladesh — A deadly air force training jet crash in the heart of Dhaka has left the nation in mourning after 31 lives were lost, the majority of them schoolchildren. The tragedy unfolded Monday afternoon in the crowded Uttara neighborhood, where a Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft collided with Milestone School and College, igniting a fire that tore through the two-story building.

Among the dead are 25 students, a courageous teacher who sustained fatal burns while helping others escape, and the pilot, Flight Lt. Mohammed Toukir Islam. The crash—now deemed the deadliest of its kind in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory—prompted a swift national response. Tuesday was declared a national day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and vigils held in schools and neighborhoods across the country.

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as the jet plummeted shortly after taking off from the A.K. Khandaker air base, located roughly 11 kilometers from the school. According to military officials, the pilot experienced a critical technical malfunction and attempted to steer the aircraft away from populated areas. It was his first solo flight.

Despite the pilot’s efforts, the crash ignited a massive blaze, with 171 people—mostly students—rescued by firefighters, volunteers, and frantic parents. Emergency responders transported victims using helicopters, ambulances, and even rickshaws. Medical staff at local hospitals have confirmed that 78 individuals remain hospitalized, many in critical condition. A blood donation camp has since been established at a specialized burn unit.

The emotional toll has rippled far beyond the crash site. Grieving students gathered Tuesday to protest outside the destroyed school grounds, demanding transparency about the identities of victims, immediate compensation for bereaved families, and a halt to the air force’s use of aging training aircraft. Protesters voiced anger over how officials handled the incident, claiming some students and teachers were manhandled during Monday’s chaos.

Tensions escalated when two senior government advisors arrived at the scene, prompting an outcry that forced them to retreat. Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that several bodies were so severely burned that DNA testing would be required for identification. Twenty families have already claimed their loved ones’ remains.

The Bangladesh Air Force has pledged a full investigation into the incident. The Civil Aviation Authority, however, is not directly involved, raising questions about oversight. Previous crashes involving the F-7 series—such as the 2008 fatal incident outside Dhaka—have similarly stirred concerns over flight safety.

Funeral prayers for the pilot were held in Dhaka and will continue in Rajshahi, where his parents reside. Tributes are pouring in for Maherin Chowdhury, the teacher hailed as a hero for rescuing over 20 students before succumbing to her injuries.

As a nation reckons with its grief, students and civil society are calling for sweeping reform—demanding safer skies, stronger accountability, and dignity for the victims whose lives were cut short in what should have been a normal day at school.

 

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