[🇧🇩-Airforce] A trainer jet crashes, 19 people die.

[Saif]

Govt publishes identities of Dhaka aircraft crash victims

The government on Wednesday published the identities of the victims who were killed and injured in the BAF aircraft crash at Uttara in Dhaka. The bodies of the 21 victims among 29 deceased were handed over to their respective families, six bodies were kept at mortuaries and one remained unidentifi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Govt publishes identities of Dhaka aircraft crash victims

Published :
Jul 23, 2025 20:08
Updated :
Jul 23, 2025 20:08

The government on Wednesday published the identities of the victims who were killed and injured in the BAF aircraft crash at Uttara in Dhaka.

The bodies of the 21 victims among 29 deceased were handed over to their respective families, six bodies were kept at mortuaries and one remained unidentified, CA’s press wing shared the data of the Health Ministry in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Besides, 57 injured victims are now undergoing treatment at different hospitals as 13 injured victims have been discharged from hospitals till 7:15 pm on Wednesday, it said.

Those included five teachers, 41 students, one school staff, one firefighter, one policeman, 14 army personnel, one assistant, one electrician and four others.

It also shared the hospital-wise list of casualties till 1:00 pm on Wednesday.

National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery: 44 injured, 11 dead

Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Govt. Hospital: one injured, no deaths

Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka: 15 dead, 21 injured

Lubana General Hospital and Cardiac Centre, Uttara:, one dead, 13 injured

Uttara Adhunik Hospital: one injured, no deaths

Dhaka Medical College and Hospital: 3 injured, one dead

Shaheed Mansur Ali Medical College: One injured, no deaths

United Hospital: two injured, one dead

Human Aid Research Lab and Hospital: one injured

The death toll from the tragic military aircraft crash into Milestone School and College in Uttara has risen to 29, following the death of a nine-year-old boy, Nafis, who was undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, according to the Health Ministry.

The fatal crash occurred on Monday afternoon (July 21) shortly after an FT-7 BGI fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force took off from the Kurmitola airbase, triggering a massive blaze that claimed numerous lives, mostly children.

The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) on Tuesday reported 31 deaths and 165 injuries, conflicting with the Ministry of Health’s figures and creating public confusion.

Six unidentified bodies remain at the morgue of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka. The Ministry of Health is now seeking assistance from relatives to identify these victims.​

 

[Saif]

8 among 44 admitted in Nat’l Burn Institute in critical condition: Director

Of the 44 individuals admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS), eight are in critical condition and are currently being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), according to institute director Dr Md Nasir Uddin. In a press briefing held around 3:45 pm, Dr Nasir Uddin

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

8 among 44 admitted in Nat’l Burn Institute in critical condition: Director

Published :
Jul 23, 2025 20:53
Updated :
Jul 23, 2025 20:53

Of the 44 individuals admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS), eight are in critical condition and are currently being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), according to institute director Dr Md Nasir Uddin.

In a press briefing held around 3:45 pm, Dr Nasir Uddin said, “At present, 44 patients are receiving treatment. Among them, eight are in critical condition, 13 are serious, and the remaining 23 are in intermediate condition.”

The patients were admitted following a fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College located in Uttara, Dhaka, BSS reports.

He continued, “Today, we held discussions with doctors from Singapore. We shared our treatment decisions, and they gave their feedback. Each patient was evaluated individually — including medication needs, surgical requirements, and dressing changes.”

The director noted that Singaporean specialists are advising on the treatment plans for the burn victims.

“Our multidisciplinary team has reviewed and discussed treatment protocols with them. Based on their suggestions, we are integrating recommended procedures into our care,” he said.

“Burn treatment evolves continuously,” he said, adding, “Decisions may change hourly. Children and older patients are especially vulnerable. We are using separate treatment protocols for children. Each patient is being reassessed every 12 hours, and necessary decisions are being made accordingly.”

He confirmed that there is a sufficient supply of medication and all essential medical equipment.​

 

[Saif]

No shortage of blood for burn victims, says govt

The government has assured that there is no shortage of blood for burn patients of the Milestone plane crash and urged the public not to panic, saying all blood groups are available through a list of willing voluntary donors. In a press release issued by the Press Wing of the Chief Adviser, it was

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

No shortage of blood for burn victims, says govt

UNB
Published :
Jul 23, 2025 23:54
Updated :
Jul 23, 2025 23:54

The government has assured that there is no shortage of blood for burn patients of the Milestone plane crash and urged the public not to panic, saying all blood groups are available through a list of willing voluntary donors.

In a press release issued by the Press Wing of the Chief Adviser, it was clarified that a sufficient number of volunteers, along with their blood groups, names, and phone numbers, have already been registered to meet any emergency needs.

It further explained that burn victims are typically administered Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), which is not stored in advance but collected as needed. Once specialists determine a patient requires blood, registered donors will be contacted promptly to ensure timely transfusion.

“There is currently no crisis of any blood group, nor is there any likelihood of such a situation occurring,” the statement said, adding that the public can remain fully assured in this regard.

For any urgent blood requirement, individuals are requested to contact the focal person, Dr. Sarkar Farhana Kabir, Deputy Civil Surgeon, Dhaka, at 01792-744325.​

 

[Saif]

Why conducting flight training over populated areas?

Bangladesh is not at war, nor does it wish to engage in any conflict in the foreseeable future. However, with the drumbeat of war growing increasingly louder across the globe and several nations bearing the brunt of foreign aggression, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, speaking at the Bangladesh Air Fo

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Why conducting flight training over populated areas?

Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Jul 23, 2025 23:40
Updated :
Jul 23, 2025 23:40

Bangladesh is not at war, nor does it wish to engage in any conflict in the foreseeable future. However, with the drumbeat of war growing increasingly louder across the globe and several nations bearing the brunt of foreign aggression, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, speaking at the Bangladesh Air Force's annual exercise programme last April, warned that not getting prepared for war would be suicidal.

Less than three months later, the country faced a war-like situation on Monday afternoon. The primary students of Milestone School and College in Uttara were preparing to leave the school for the day. They gathered in the school corridor. Just then, a fighter jet, out of nowhere and without any warning, rammed directly into the school building, engulfing it in a ball of flame.

In a split second, the school's joyous atmosphere, filled with laughter and chatter of innocent children, turned into a living inferno, a scene of unspeakable horror. At least 25 children were burned to death on the spot, 171 were injured and are now fighting for their lives in hospitals, and some guardians are still desperately searching for the whereabouts of their beloved ones.

The death of so many blooming children in a single incident is unprecedented in the country's history. The entire country is shocked and heartbroken as media sites are replete with agonising photos and video footage of the innocent victims' ordeal. The images of their lifeless bodies, the wails of bereaved parents and the scattered, blood-stained shoes, school bags, and ID cards of the little ones at the crash site evoke a chilling resemblance to tragedies in war-torn countries. One particularly shocking video shows a severely burned child, with his clothes and even hair completely burned off, limping down the street in desperation. These shocking and sickening scenes will haunt the collective memory of the nation for years to come. But more importantly, who is responsible for this grave tragedy? How to console the bereaved parents who have lost the apple of their eye?

Returning to the CA's comment on war preparation - yes, not getting prepared for war may be suicidal, but in a tragic twist of irony, the very act of preparation turned out to be suicidal. It wasn't a foreign fighter jet that struck the school, but one piloted by a trainee from our own Air Force. So, is this how we prepare for a war by killing our own children?

Accidents may occur due to human error, technical faults, or unavoidable circumstances at any moment. But some questions naturally pop up concerning the accident. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the FT-7 BGI fighter aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crash-landed due to a mechanical failure shortly after take-off from BAF Base in Kurmitola, and that the pilot had tried to steer the plane towards a less-populated area.

But the question is, why did the BAF choose to conduct fighter jet training over such a densely populated area, when it could have been carried out in remote char areas, in coastal regions? Conducting fighter jet training over densely populated Dhaka is tantamount to gross negligence and a clear violation of safety regulations, especially given that crash landings of BAF training aircraft and fighter jets are not uncommon. FT-7 BGI fighter jets have crashed multiple times in recent years. The previous incidents received little attention because they occurred in remote areas with minimal casualties. This time, it caused a massive tragedy in the heart of the capital.

Dhaka, as one of the world's most densely populated cities, is already prone to a host of dangers like fire, road accidents, building collapse and so on. Now, if dangers descend from the sky, where would the city dwellers go?

The tragedy appears more painful when it is realised that a forewarning had been given about the dangers of using the civilian runway of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) for military training purposes. The FT-7 BGI fighter jet travels at speeds nearly three times faster than commercial aircraft. Allowing such jets to operate on a civilian runway is not only a serious breach of safety protocols but also an open invitation to disaster.

Speaking to journalists, civil aviation experts have claimed that they have repeatedly warned both the BAF and HSIA authorities about the risks. But the authorities trivialised the warning and adopted no precautionary measures. As one expert lamented in Bangladesh, no action is taken until lives are lost.

Adding to the problem is the unchecked urban sprawl and haphazard growth of high-rises around the airport. Milestone School and College's Uttara branch, for example, is located just three kilometers from the HSIA runway. There are regulations prohibiting the construction of establishments like schools, malls, or multi-storey buildings near airport approach paths. Yet, the area is dotted with high-rises where only one- or two-storey structures should exist, posing a serious threat to aviation safety.

Last but not least, the catastrophe exposed a deep fault line in the country's air defence capabilities. The Chinese-made FT-7 BGI model of fighter jet is based on 1960s-era technology and had already gone out of production in 2013. Aviation websites describe them as relatively non-automated and risky. While the BAF fleet also includes a few Soviet-era MiG-29s, these second and third-generation aircraft has become obsolete in today's world of advanced stealth and radar systems. Their effectiveness in maintaining air safety is highly questionable, and using them for training purposes poses a mortal danger to both pilots and civilians alike. Therefore, as the nation mourns, it is also time for taking a hard look at the loopholes in air defense system and disaster preparedness, and demand accountability from those responsible.​

 

[Saif]

Fighter jet crashes at Milestone school: Uttara grieves, every home mourns

Uttara remains cloaked in grief. The devastating crash of a military training aircraft at the Diabari branch of Milestone School and College, which claimed the lives of 32 people—including many children—has cast a deep pall over the neighbourhood. Every home mourns. Since the incident on...

en.prothomalo.com

Fighter jet crashes at Milestone school: Uttara grieves, every home mourns
Md. Ashish-Ur-RahmanDhaka
Published: 23 Jul 2025, 14: 06

Bangladesh Air Force officials visit training fighter jet crash site Milestone School and College, Diabari, Uttara, DhakaSuvra Kanti Das

Uttara remains cloaked in grief. The devastating crash of a military training aircraft at the Diabari branch of Milestone School and College, which claimed the lives of 32 people—including many children—has cast a deep pall over the neighbourhood. Every home mourns.

Since the incident on Monday, the nation has been gripped by sorrow over the deaths and suffering of so many young students. But in Uttara, the grief feels especially close. From that afternoon, daily life slowed to a standstill.

Bustling restaurants, crowded malls, and vibrant public spaces once filled with young people fell quiet by evening. Traffic inside the residential sectors thinned. The familiar rhythm of daily life dulled—muted by collective shock.

That air of mourning persisted into the next day. Tamanna Akter, a homemaker from Sector 12, told Prothom Alo that her son Mobashsher Rahman is a fourth-grade student at Milestone School. On the day of the crash, she was waiting at the school gate to pick him up. He had just left his classroom minutes before the plane crashed. One of his classmates was severely burned. It took her nearly an hour to find her son.

Students of West End High School, Azimpur, Dhaka, pray for the victims of fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College Prothom Alo

“Only Allah knows how I survived those moments,” she said. Her son, now traumatised, was admitted to hospital due to breathing difficulties from smoke inhalation.

That same afternoon, we spoke to Rezaul Haque, a teacher at Mymensingh Teachers’ Training College and a resident of Diabari. His two children are former students of Milestone. He said many children in Uttara attend this institution—the Diabari campus being the largest. Other branches operate in Sectors 4, 7, 11, and nearby areas.

As residents from across Uttara and adjoining neighbourhoods send their children to Milestone, the Diabari tragedy has affected far more than just the families of the deceased. The grief has spread through an entire community of parents and students. Rezaul himself was visibly shaken.

Yesterday afternoon, Ishita Jahan, a homemaker from Noyanagar (west of Diabari), came to Milestone College to witness the aftermath. Her niece, who studies at the school, was unharmed.

Ishita explained that most children in areas around Uttara—Noyanagar, Ranabhola, Puran Kalia, Shukurbhanga, Dharengar Tek, Dalipara, Khalpar—attend Milestone. Even if one’s own child does not, a neighbour’s or relative’s likely does. That’s why the whole community has been united in collective mourning.

Mother of Raisa Moni, a student of Milestone School and College, rushed to the campus hearing that her daughter's burnt notebooks and books were found on 22 July 2025 Prothom Alo

We also spoke to Kifayet Ullah, imam of the Sector 9 Jama Mosque in Uttara. With a heavy voice, he said, “Special prayers were held at every mosque in Uttara after Zuhr. No one asked whose children had died. They were all our children. That’s why every home is weeping. People cried uncontrollably during the prayers.”

Later in the day, hundreds gathered near the Diabari roundabout. The crash site is a short walk from Uttara North metro station. Many arrived in groups, disembarking from the metro to approach the scene.

A large number of army, police, and RAB personnel were stationed in the area. Curious visitors were allowed up to the southern gate of Milestone School, but access beyond was restricted.

Monir Hossain, a mobile phone service trader from Brahmanbaria, had come to Dhaka to buy equipment. After finishing his shopping, he took the metro from Shahbagh to Uttara just to visit the site. “It’s such a heartbreaking incident,” he said. “I had already planned to come see it while coming to Dhaka. But I’m a bit disappointed I couldn’t go in.”

As dusk fell on this grief-stricken day, the outer edges of the capital grew dim. Many remained at the Diabari roundabout, their faces marked by sorrow. Their eyes held a silence too deep for words.​

 

[Saif]

Could this tragedy have been avoided?

The crash of an Air Force training jet at Milestone School and College in Uttara, resulting in the deaths of so many innocent children, is a profoundly tragic event. The aircraft crashed in a location where young children were inside classrooms. I express my deepest condolences to the parents of...

en.prothomalo.com

Could this tragedy have been avoided?
Salahuddin M Rahmatullah
Updated: 23 Jul 2025, 16: 05

The crash of an Air Force training jet at Milestone School and College in Uttara, resulting in the deaths of so many innocent children, is a profoundly tragic event. The aircraft crashed in a location where young children were inside classrooms.

I express my deepest condolences to the parents of the deceased and injured children. I also wish a speedy recovery to all the injured. The death of the trainee pilot who was flying the aircraft has also deeply saddened us.

The question is: Could this accident and the subsequent deaths have been avoided?

Perhaps it could have—if we had a dedicated runway for military aircraft located in a remote location, far from residential areas, such as a large open field or a river island (char), or even elsewhere.

For example, the abandoned airport in Lalmonirhat could have been repurposed for such use. Globally, training aircraft typically take off and land in sparsely populated or isolated areas. This way, even if an accident occurs, the damage is minimal.

Training fighter jets require long runways, which we currently have in Chattogram and Sylhet. The Air Force uses the Chattogram runway, but the Sylhet runway is not ideal due to its proximity to the border. Dhaka is a densely populated city, filled with high-rise buildings, schools, universities, and more. In such an environment, any crash can result in a high number of casualties.

The loss of so many young children because of this plane crash is incredibly painful. It’s natural to ask whether policymakers will learn anything from this incident.

For many years, no new aircraft have been purchased for the Air Force. Over the past 50 years, various governments have ruled the country—none of them ever claimed there was a lack of funds. So, why wasn’t the Air Force modernised? Who will answer this question?

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the crash may have been due to mechanical failure. That may be their view, but I believe we can’t definitively say what caused the accident until a full investigation is completed by the Air Force. It is true that the aircraft was quite old. A military aircraft typically has a service life of 10 to 12 years.

For many years, no new aircraft have been purchased for the Air Force. Over the past 50 years, various governments have ruled the country—none of them ever claimed there was a lack of funds. So, why wasn’t the Air Force modernised? Who will answer this question?

Military—or any—aircraft can crash due to mechanical issues or other reasons, but everyone involved must remain extremely vigilant. It must be investigated whether the recommendations from past accident inquiry committees have actually been implemented.

I have been involved in investigation committees for civilian aircraft accidents. For military aircraft, separate committees are formed. The recommendations these committees make cannot be implemented by mid- or lower-level officers. Decisions must come from the highest level—on whether to keep using certain aircraft or decommission them.

In such cases, everyone tends to defend their own position. Engineers will claim the aircraft was airworthy. Pilots will say they received proper training. This happens in many other sectors as well. Take the rickety buses on Dhaka’s roads, for example.

They continue to operate and cause fatal accidents, yet authorities take no action. Drivers and owners defend themselves by claiming the buses are fit for operation. Even 54 years after independence, these unsafe buses still run freely in Dhaka. If the government declared tomorrow that such buses must be taken off the roads, they would have to comply.

The government must prioritise public safety above all else. It can’t sit idle like a king on a throne. Half-hearted or temporary actions won’t suffice—especially when people’s safety is at stake. The focus must shift away from personal gain. What’s alarming is the grip of bribery and corruption at every level of the administration.

Regarding political culture, one party can’t seem to tolerate the other. The gathering of political leaders at hospitals after the crash showed a complete lack of responsibility. The government’s one-day mourning for the Milestone School tragedy must not be mere tokenism.

The government must stand by the families of the victims and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured. We must honestly say: We failed to save those children, and for that, we must apologise to their parents.

I hope the government and authorities concerned will learn from this tragic event and the painful deaths of so many children. They must promise the nation that no more fighter jets will fly over densely populated areas in the future.

A dedicated alternative runway must be established immediately. If everyone does not remain alert, even greater tragedies may occur in the future.

One final note: the families who lost their children are emotionally devastated. It is the government's responsibility to offer them support and compassion. The government has already stated that it will cover the cost of treatment for the injured.

I hope this is not just a hollow promise. Let us not see, two days later, that the parents are being forced to bear the costs themselves. In the past, we saw reports in the media of negligence in treating those injured in the 2024 mass uprising. Let’s ensure that the parents of these injured children are not subjected to the same.

My final message: The government must take immediate action to prevent such accidents from recurring. There is no room for delay.

* Flight Lieutenant (Retd.) Salahuddin M Rahmatullah is former Air Force official, head of aircraft accident investigation committee​

 

[Saif]

Fighter jet crash: We demand answers

In the past, we have seen attempts to conceal or downplay similar incidents. It is crucial to release information and figures promptly.

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Fighter jet crash: We demand answers
No role of Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum was seen on Monday after the plane crash. She has been inactive before as well. And yet, health is a very important sector. I do not understand why she has been appointed as a health adviser.

Anu Muhammad
Updated: 23 Jul 2025, 11: 31

The victims of the aircraft crash at Milestone School and College in the capital are mostly children who went to their school for study. The entire nation is shaken by the incident. We even had to see our children that way.

The first question that comes to mind from the incident is why is fighter jet training being conducted in such a densely populated area? We want an answer. Before conducting any activity in a densely populated area, a responsible institution should carefully consider the possible consequences. After all, there is always a risk of accidents during flight training.

The second question is, why was a school allowed so close to the airport runway? Urban planners have long been recommending proper zoning and city planning, but none of that has been followed. It is said that aircraft regularly fly over this school. The risk of an accident was always there. Now that it has happened, it should not be dismissed as a mere accident — this is the result of poor planning and irresponsibility.

A few hours after the incident, the government released the numbers of those killed and injured. But by then, photos, videos and various pieces of information had already spread across social media. Naturally, this has led people to suspect that the actual death toll is being hidden. In the past, we have seen attempts to conceal or downplay similar incidents. It is crucial to release information and figures promptly.

Students and teachers at Milestone School were baton-charged on Monday. It must be kept in mind that the death of children in a plane crash is a tragic incident. Naturally, people will be outraged after such an event. People will be angry and frightened; so, they must be shown empathy. It is not a responsible act to charge batons on them.
We saw that the announcement to postpone Tuesday’s HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate) and equivalent examinations was made at around 3:00 am. The government did not respond responsibly to the people’s suffering, losses, and overall situation. Instead, it acted arbitrarily. Such behaviour was common under previous governments. We cannot accept such actions under the present one.

In the past too, we have seen that this government takes time to make decisions. And once a decision is made, it often gets reversed. This makes it difficult for the public to place their trust.

Students and teachers at Milestone School were baton-charged on Monday. It must be kept in mind that the death of children in a plane crash is a tragic incident. Naturally, people will be outraged after such an event. People will be angry and frightened; so, they must be shown empathy. It is not a responsible act to charge batons on them. I expect the government will look into the matter and take action against those involved.

FT-7 BGI aircraft crashed into Milestone School building on 22 July Prothom Alo

Following the plane crash into the Milestone School campus, the government made a Facebook post mentioning a bank account number for anyone willing to help the victims. Later, that post was deleted. This is a ridiculous and irresponsible move. Such actions must end. Why will the government have to collect donations to support the victims?

No role of Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum was seen on Monday after the plane crash. She has been inactive before as well. And yet, health is a very important sector. I do not understand why she has been appointed as a health adviser. No initiatives for reform or any steps to wipe out mismanagement and waste in the health sector is seen either.

We want answers as to what considerations the government uses to appoint individuals to various responsibilities when there is no visible activity from them.

One of the responsibilities of the investigation committee on this plane crash should be to review whether the aircrafts used for training are still airworthy. They must look into whether there were any irregularities or negligence. If there were any, those responsible must be held accountable.

We have seen before that investigation committees are formed in various incidents, but no report is published later. This happened during the past governments. We have seen similar things happening under the current government too. This practice should end. As responsibility is not identified and action is not taken accordingly, similar incidents keep recurring.

* Anu Muhammad is a member of Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee and former professor at Jahangirnagar University.​

 

[Saif]

A teacher’s account: The first three minutes after the aircraft crash

It is a nightmare I never thought I would have to witness. The lives that have been lost will never return. For those who survived—I pray that the Almighty brings them back.

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A teacher’s account: The first three minutes after the aircraft crash

On Monday afternoon, a Bangladesh Air Force training fighter jet crashed into a two-story building of Uttara’s Milestone School and College. When the aircraft struck, Mohammad Sayedul Amin, a teacher, was trapped in a room on the second floor along with seven or eight students. Later, he broke through a small gate on the balcony and managed to rescue the children unharmed. Yesterday, he recounted the events of that day.

Md. Sayedul Amin
Published: 23 Jul 2025, 10: 04

Sayedul Amin Collected

Classes had just been dismissed. There were seven or eight children with me in a classroom on the second floor—most of them eighth-grade students. Suddenly, there was a deafening noise. At first, I thought it was thunder. But the sky was clear which is why it didn’t make sense.

Soon, I saw flames erupting from a nearby coconut tree. Before I could process what was happening, fire began spreading across the balcony and other parts of the second floor. Smoke filled the air, it was becoming impossible to breathe.

The room I was in was on the west side of the building, at the far end near the restroom. When staying inside the room became unbearable, I took the children to the washroom for shelter. Then I suddenly remembered—at the far end of the balcony, there was a small iron door, usually locked. That day too, it was locked. But the door’s metal was thin. I realised there was no way to break the wall—but if I could break the door, maybe we could survive.

Standing between life and death, I had to try. The boys, the age of my own child, were paralysed with fear. I could not even look at their faces. They just kept screaming, “Save us! Save us!”

I did not know how I would break the door. Kicking it a few times did not work. Just then, I saw a boy running toward me along the balcony—his shirt was on fire. “Sir, save me,” he begged. When I grabbed him, the flames nearly burned my hands. Time was running out. I told the boys in the washroom to pour water on him while I tried to break the door.

I did not know how I would break the door. Kicking it a few times did not work. Just then, I saw a boy running toward me along the balcony—his shirt was on fire. “Sir, save me,” he begged.

I kept kicking the gate—relentlessly. I do not remember how long or how hard I kicked. I just knew I had to break through. Eventually, I managed to bend and break enough of the thin iron bars to create an opening just wide enough for a body to pass through. An adjacent mango tree grew right up to the door. A few boys climbed down using that. Soon, people outside began climbing the tree to help the rest of the children escape.

From the moment of the crash, to the washroom, to breaking the door—it all took around three minutes. But those three minutes felt like an eternity.

It was only after I reached the ground that I realised an aircraft had hit our building. Until then, I had not even considered the possibility of a plane crash. I remember hearing no sound from the aircraft’s engine—just two loud explosions. One from the crash itself, and the second likely from the fuel tank exploding.

The two-story building that was struck houses the Bangla version classrooms on the ground floor and the English version on the second floor. I was on the second floor, which has 12 rooms—girls’ classrooms on one side, boys’ on the other, along with a lab and teachers’ room.

The plane struck directly in front of the staircase, on the ground floor. Fire spread rapidly. School had been dismissed around 1:00 pm. As per routine, the girls had left first. Most of the boys had also exited. There was another teacher with some students in a room near the impact point on the second floor. As far as I know their room was engulfed in flames first.

When I reached the ground, I saw two bodies, but they were crushed beyond recognition. It was hard to hold myself together. The children’s condition—anyone could imagine. As I was coming down, I saw a girl in a burqa running, her clothes ablaze.

The boys who were with me all got out safely. Some had breathing trouble from the smoke and heat; a few may have gotten minor injuries while climbing down. I heard that the boy who came running to me with his shirt on fire is still alive—he’s in the hospital.

When the children climbed out through the door, the fire was dangerously close. We can endure temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for short periods. But the heat there was beyond human tolerance. Combined with the smoke, it was unbearable.

Had we been trapped for another couple of minutes, we might not have survived. I shudder to think what could have happened to the boys. I saw students—like my own children—burnt to death right before my eyes. Many are now fighting for their lives in hospital beds. A fellow teacher died. Others are gravely injured.

It is a nightmare I never thought I would have to witness. The lives that have been lost will never return. For those who survived—I pray that the Almighty brings them back.

* Md. Sayedul Amin is a senior teacher, English Version, Milestone School and College​