A devastating incident occurred in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 11, 2024, when a military jet crashed into the Milestone School and College, resulting in at least 27 fatalities, including 25 children. The aircraft, identified as an FT-7 jet, encountered a mechanical failure shortly after takeoff, leading to a catastrophic collision with the school amidst a busy afternoon. The tragedy has left the nation in mourning and prompted hundreds of students and community members to demand accountability.
As the smoke and flames engulfed the two-story building, parents had gathered outside to collect their children at the end of the school day. The crash occurred around 13:18 local time (03:18 UTC), marking one of the deadliest air incidents in Bangladesh’s recent history. In addition to the fatalities, approximately 171 individuals sustained injuries, many suffering from severe burns. The sheer number of young victims has intensified the collective grief felt across the nation of 171 million people.
Community Outrage and Calls for Accountability
In the aftermath of the disaster, distraught students and parents gathered at the crash site, demanding answers from officials. Witnesses described horrific scenes, with some students expressing concern that the official death toll may not reflect the true extent of the tragedy. According to state media BSS News, the government has denied withholding information, stating that the identities of those killed are still being verified.
Mohammad Imran Hussein, a lecturer at Milestone School and College, recounted the chaos that ensued as the jet struck the building. “The sound was really intolerable. I looked around to see what happened and saw the tail of the plane. I saw a huge flame of fire,” he said, visibly shaken. The college serves students from kindergarten through high school, with the destroyed building housing nearly 100 children aged six to 13.
Sheik Rameen, a high school student, described the horror of the moment. “It’s like this building was turned into a death trap. I saw a lot of children; I tried to save their lives,” he stated. His poignant remarks highlight the urgent need for clarity surrounding the events leading to the crash.
Investigation and Response
The Bangladesh Air Force has stated that the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, attempted to divert the aircraft from populated areas before the crash. The FT-7 jet was on a routine training mission when the mechanical fault occurred, according to military reports. This aircraft type, a variant of China’s Chengdu J-7/F-7 family, was acquired by Bangladesh in 2011, with deliveries completed by 2013.
Emergency responders worked tirelessly to rescue survivors and transport the injured to hospitals in Dhaka. The situation at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital became critical, as medical staff faced an influx of young burn victims. Harunur Rashid, a resident surgeon, noted that most of the injured were children under the age of 12, as families anxiously awaited news of their loved ones.
Muhammad Yunus, the interim government leader, expressed his anguish in a video message, stating, “I have no words. None of us ever imagined it. It wasn’t within anyone’s expectations.” He emphasized the profound impact of the tragedy, acknowledging the difficulty in providing answers to grieving families. “What can we possibly say to them? We can’t even answer ourselves,” Yunus remarked.
As the investigation continues, the community remains united in its grief, seeking justice and answers for the lives lost in this unimaginable tragedy.
