On July 21, 2025, a routine training mission turned into a national tragedy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, when a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashed into the Milestone School and College, claiming at least 31 lives, including 25 children, and injuring over 160 others. The catastrophic event has left the nation of 171 million in mourning, with students, families, and officials grappling with the aftermath of the deadliest air incident in recent memory.
A Devastating Crash
The Chinese-made F-7 BGI jet, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam, took off from the Kurmitola Air Force Base at 1:06 p.m. local time. Moments after takeoff, the single-seater aircraft suffered a mechanical failure. According to Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury, director of the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), the pilot made a heroic effort to steer the jet away from densely populated areas. Despite his valiant attempt, the plane crashed into a two-story building on the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka’s northern Uttara neighborhood, near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The impact was catastrophic. The jet slammed into the school, near the cafeteria, where around 1,000 of the school’s 4,000 students were present. The building erupted in flames and thick smoke, turning what was an ordinary school day into a scene of chaos and despair. “The sound was really intolerable,” said Mohammad Imran Hussein, a lecturer at the school, recalling the moment of impact. “I saw the tail of the plane. I saw a huge flame of fire.”
A Heartbreaking Toll
The crash claimed the lives of at least 31 people, with 25 of the victims being children aged six to 13. Among the deceased was the pilot, Md Towkir Islam, who succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital. Over 160 others were injured, many suffering severe burns. Emergency crews rushed the wounded to four hospitals in Dhaka, including the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where most of the injured were children under 12, according to resident surgeon Harunur Rashid.
The Milestone School and College, which houses a kindergarten, elementary, and high school, became a scene of unimaginable horror. “It’s like this building was turned into a death trap,” said Sheik Rameen, a 21-year-old high school student who witnessed the tragedy. “I saw a burnt child seek help, but nobody came to help them.” Rescue operations continued into Tuesday, with officials warning that the death toll could rise as smoke and heat complicated efforts to account for everyone inside the building.
Anger and Grief Grip the Community
On Tuesday, hundreds of students gathered outside the smoldering remains of the school, chanting slogans like “fake, fake” and demanding transparency from the government about the true number of casualties. Some students expressed skepticism about the official death toll, believing it may be higher. The government, through the Chief Adviser’s press wing, denied withholding information and stated that efforts to identify the victims were ongoing.
Witnesses described heart-wrenching scenes. Parents, like Shahbul, whose daughter remains missing, were overcome with grief as they waited for news. “We saw scattered parts of different bodies, of children, guardians,” said Hussein, the school lecturer, struggling to articulate the horror. Bangladesh’s interim government leader, Muhammad Yunus, expressed his anguish in a video message: “What answer can we give to their parents? What can we possibly say to them? We can’t even answer ourselves.”
Questions and Investigations
The F-7 BGI jet, part of China’s Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, was acquired by Bangladesh in a 2011 contract for 16 aircraft, with deliveries completed by 2013. The military has formed a committee to investigate the cause of the mechanical failure, with initial reports indicating no known prior technical issues with the aircraft. The crash has raised questions about the safety of military training missions near densely populated urban areas.
As firefighters sprayed water on the mangled wreckage lodged in the scorched school building, the nation mourned. Videos showed crowds gathered at hospitals, anxiously awaiting updates on loved ones. The tragedy has sparked a wave of grief and anger, with students and families demanding accountability and answers.
A Nation in Mourning
The crash at Milestone School and College has left an indelible mark on Bangladesh. The loss of young lives, the bravery of a pilot who tried to avert disaster, and the overwhelming grief of a community have united the country in sorrow. As rescue efforts continue and investigations unfold, the people of Dhaka are left to pick up the pieces of a tragedy that has shaken the nation to its core.