The Voice, Dhaka, July 2025 —
A week after the deadliest aviation disaster in Bangladesh’s history, grief and trauma still hang heavy over the nation. On July 21, an F-7 fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka.
The jet—reportedly on a training flight—plummeted from the sky and exploded on impact with the school’s primary section, killing at least 31 people, most of them children under the age of 12, and injuring dozens more, BBC reported on Sunday.
However, local media, citing medical sources, reported that the death toll had risen to 36 as of Saturday.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror and confusion. “It was like 30 or 40 thunderbolts falling from the sky,” said Ahnaf Bin Hasan, 18, who was barely 30 feet from the crash site. The crash occurred while children were waiting to be picked up or heading to coaching classes.
The pilot ejected moments before the crash but later died in the hospital. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the crash was due to a mechanical failure, though the exact cause is still under investigation.
Among the deceased was 11-year-old Wakia Firdous Nidhi. Her family, like many others, struggled through bureaucratic red tape to claim her body, even after identifying her based on dental features and a lens in her eye. “We know it’s her,” said her uncle, “but they still won’t hand over the body.”
The tragedy has also raised questions about the school’s proximity to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Fighter jets and commercial planes frequently fly overhead. Survivors like Ahnaf say they never imagined one could fall onto them.
In a country still reeling from this disaster, stories of heroism have emerged. Teacher Mahreen Chowdhury died after helping at least 20 children escape the inferno. Her body was found with over 80% burns. Students and passersby turned rescuers—clearing roads, dousing flames, and carrying victims.
As social media buzzes with claims of a cover-up, the government has reported 29 deaths, while ISPR maintains the figure at 31. According to the Health Ministry, at least 69 people were injured, including 41 students. Seven bodies remain unidentified.
The devastating crash has exposed critical gaps in airspace regulation, emergency preparedness, and military transparency. Meanwhile, the haunting screams and smoke still echo in the minds of those who survived.
BBC News have extensively covered the tragedy.
