Photo source: X
Dhaka: A Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet plummeted into a school campus in Dhaka’s densely populated Uttara area today afternoon, killing at least 20 people, including the pilot and injuring over 160 others, many of them children. The incident occurred shortly after 1:06 p.m. when the Chinese-made Chengdu F‑7 BGI jet took off from the Kurmitola Air Base on a routine training mission. According to military sources, the aircraft developed a technical malfunction soon after takeoff. Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, the pilot on board, reportedly attempted to steer the jet away from the congested locality but failed to avoid disaster, crashing directly into the premises of Milestone School and College where classes were in session.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and horror as the jet hit a classroom block and exploded into flames, sending thick black smoke billowing across the city skyline. Students and staff were trapped under debris and injured by flying shrapnel. Local residents and emergency responders rushed to the scene as fire engulfed the building. Rescue workers, including firefighters, police, army personnel, and paramedics, launched an intensive effort to evacuate survivors and recover bodies from the wreckage. Helicopters hovered overhead while ambulances and even rickshaws transported the injured to nearby hospitals. Over 160 people, many with severe burn injuries, were taken to Dhaka Medical College and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. More than 50 of the wounded remain in critical condition.
The pilot was retrieved alive after ejecting moments before the crash but succumbed to his injuries at the Combined Military Hospital by late afternoon. Officials from the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) confirmed that preliminary findings point to a mechanical failure, and a high-level inquiry has been launched. As the nation reeled from the tragedy, interim head of government Muhammad Yunus declared July 22 a national day of mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast and forensic teams deployed for DNA testing to identify the charred bodies.
Condolences poured in from across the world, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing grief over the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance,” Modi wrote.
As the blackened walls of the school stood as a stark reminder of the day’s horror, grieving families gathered outside hospitals and morgues, awaiting news of loved ones. This incident, one of the worst military aviation disasters in the country’s history, has left a deep scar on a city already grappling with urban density and safety concerns. The focus now shifts to a thorough investigation, while prayers and mourning continue across Bangladesh.
– global bihari bureau
