A tragic incident shook Dhaka on Monday afternoon when a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College in the Uttara area. The crash k*lled 19 people, including a Class VI student, 16 other children, and two teachers. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, also lost his life.
The fighter jet, an F-7BGI model, took off at 1:06 pm for a training flight but crashed soon after into a building where students were attending classes and taking tests. More than 100 people were injured, many with serious burns, and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Doctors said at least eight of the injured are in critical condition, and the number of casualties may rise.
Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Mohammed Yunus expressed his sorrow over the tragedy. He shared a message on X, saying,
“The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable. This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.”
His office also released emergency helpline numbers for those seeking information.
One student, Rafiqa Taha, who was not present at the school during the crash, told the Associated Press,
“I was terrified watching videos on TV. My God! It’s my school.”
She said the school has about 2,000 students and offers classes from the primary level to Class XII.
নিখোঁজ স্কুল শিক্ষার্থীদের বিষয়ে জরুরি যোগাযোগের নাম্বার সমূহ-
— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) July 21, 2025
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Videos from the scene showed black smoke and flames rising from the school building. Firefighters and rescue teams were seen battling the blaze and helping victims. In one video, a jet engine was found buried under the rubble of a classroom. Another video showed people rushing toward the burning structure, trying to help. A third video showed a badly injured man, covered in soot and debris, being supported by a bystander, his clothes torn from the blast.
The entire nation is mourning this terrible accident, which has left families, students, and teachers in deep pain and shock.
