The death toll from the devastating crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft into a school building in Dhaka has risen to 31, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, as more critically injured victims succumbed to their wounds.
The incident has plunged the nation into mourning, with families grappling with the horrifying loss of young lives.
The tragedy unfolded on Monday, shortly after takeoff, when an F-7 BGI training fighter jet—manufactured in China—developed a mechanical fault and plummeted into the two-storey building of Milestone School and College, located in the Diabari area of Uttara, a northern suburb of Dhaka.
Saidur Rahman, special adviser to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, addressed the media on Tuesday, confirming that 27 of the deceased had been identified at that point, 25 of whom were schoolchildren, many under the age of 12.
Rahman described the situation at hospitals as dire, stating that while medical personnel are doing everything possible, several of the injured remain in critical condition, undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) in the capital.
The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam, tragically lost his life in the crash as well. According to the Inter-Service Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), the pilot made every effort to steer the aircraft away from populated areas in a final attempt to minimize civilian casualties, but unfortunately, failed due to the low altitude and sudden technical failure.
Hospitals in Dhaka have been overwhelmed. Dozens of ambulances transported the injured to emergency wards, but medical staff and facilities quickly became overburdened due to the sheer number of severe burn cases.
Parents and relatives, many of whom witnessed the crash or arrived moments later, were seen desperately searching for their children, moving from one hospital to another in panic and grief.
Outside hospital emergency entrances, scenes of heartbreak played out as anxious families waited for news amid an atmosphere heavy with uncertainty, fear, and sorrow.
In the wake of the calamity, the Bangladeshi government declared Tuesday a national day of mourning.
A statement from the Chief Advisor’s Office ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast at all government offices, autonomous institutions, and educational establishments throughout the country.
Special prayers are being held across mosques, temples, churches, and other places of worship for the victims and their families.
A high-level investigative committee has been constituted by the Bangladesh Air Force to probe the exact cause of the crash. Initial indications point toward a critical technical malfunction, though further analysis will be required.
Emergency evacuation and response operations were coordinated using both ambulances and Air Force helicopters, ensuring rapid transfer of the wounded to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and other nearby medical facilities for immediate care.
This incident is being described as the worst aviation tragedy in Bangladesh in decades, recalling memories of the 1984 passenger jet crash that claimed 49 lives during a stormy landing attempt at Dhaka airport.
The entire nation stands united in mourning, grappling with a sense of loss that is deep and heartbreaking, particularly for the families of the young schoolchildren whose futures were abruptly and unfairly cut short.
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