Bangladesh Observes Mourning After Deadly Military Jet Crash Claims 31 Lives at Dhaka School
Published : 21:07, 22 July 2025
Bangladesh is in national mourning following a catastrophic military aircraft crash that resulted in the deaths of at least 31 individuals, including numerous schoolchildren. The incident, which occurred in the capital city of Dhaka, marks the country's deadliest aviation tragedy in decades.
Incident Summary
On Sunday, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College, located in Dhaka’s Uttara neighborhood, shortly after taking off from a nearby air base. The crash occurred around 13:00 local time during a routine training exercise. Witnesses report the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure mid-flight.
Flight Lieutenant Md Taukir Islam, the pilot of the aircraft, was among the deceased. According to official sources, the pilot made an attempt to divert the aircraft to a less densely populated area but was unsuccessful. The jet ultimately collided with the school building, leading to extensive damage and mass casualties.
Victims and Casualties
The majority of those killed were students attending Milestone School and College, a private educational institution catering to approximately 2,000 pupils across all levels. Seventeen of the confirmed fatalities were children. Numerous parents, who had gathered to collect their children at the end of the school day, were also among the victims.
Medical facilities across Dhaka received a surge of injured individuals. At least 160 people sustained injuries, with over 50 suffering critical burn wounds from jet fuel exposure. Many of the injured were between the ages of 10 and 15. Emergency response teams continue to provide intensive care and support to the survivors.
Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of devastation. Several students had just finished examinations and were leaving the premises when the aircraft hit the building. Family members and staff are grappling with grief as identification and medical care efforts continue.
Government Response and Investigation
Authorities have established an emergency response hotline for families affected by the crash. Medical institutions, including the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, remain inundated with patients and concerned relatives. Volunteers have stepped forward to donate blood, and government officials have visited hospitals to offer support.
Bangladesh’s interim government leader, Muhammad Yunus, assured the public of a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the incident. Bodies of the identified deceased will be handed over to their families, while others will be identified via DNA testing. Yunus also urged citizens to avoid overcrowding hospitals to ensure uninterrupted medical operations.
An official investigation committee has been formed to determine the technical causes of the aircraft failure and assess systemic vulnerabilities within military aviation operations.
Historical Context and Condolences
This crash represents the most severe aviation accident in Bangladesh since a 1984 Biman Bangladesh Airlines crash, which killed 49 people near Dhaka. In more recent history, a 2018 crash involving US-Bangla Airlines in Kathmandu led to 51 fatalities. Additionally, another F-7 training jet crash occurred in 2008 near Dhaka, resulting in the death of the pilot.
Leaders from neighboring countries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have extended their condolences to the people of Bangladesh.
Conclusion
The tragedy has plunged the nation into grief, raising pressing questions about aviation safety, especially in training operations conducted near densely populated urban centers. As Bangladesh mourns, the focus remains on supporting affected families, treating the injured, and preventing future disasters of this nature.
Sources: BBC Bangla, Reuters, Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh Ministry of Health, Bangladesh Armed Forces Press Statements
