Months have passed since a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College building in Uttara, yet the grief of the bereaved families remains undiminished, with frustration growing as time goes on.
Despite the inquiry committee report clearly identifying negligence behind the tragedy, no visible action has been taken against those deemed responsible.
Families say they repeatedly approached various government offices, but received no meaningful response, leaving them disheartened.
Facing silence from authorities, relatives of the deceased and injured have begun preparing for a fresh movement and are planning a peaceful demonstration towards the interim chief adviser’s official residence, Jamuna, for which they have written to the police commissioner for permission.
On 21 July, an F-7 BGI fighter aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into the Haider Ali Building of Milestone School and College in Uttara’s Diabari area. A total of 36 people, including the pilot Flight Lieutenant Md Tawsir Islam, lost their lives in the midday crash.
Among the dead were 28 students, three female teachers, three guardians, and a female staff. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 165 people were admitted to ten hospitals with injuries.
Most of the victims were students who left home that morning with dreams, only to return wrapped in white sheets.
Five-point demand from families
Nearly five months after the tragedy, families placed five demands before Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, including Tk 5 crore in compensation for each deceased victim, and at least Tk 2 crore for each injured survivor.
They also sought state recognition of all deceased as martyrs, and demanded lifelong treatment and rehabilitation for the injured.
Families further demanded that the school be held accountable for violating building codes, requiring it to pay Tk 3 crore to each deceased victim’s family and Tk 1 crore to each injured victim’s family.
They have also called for the construction of a mosque in Uttara in memory of the victims.
Many grieving parents say they requested a meeting with the chief adviser but received no reply. They allege that the school authorities, meanwhile, highlighted their own losses and applied for compensation but showed little concern for the victims’ families.
Ashraful Islam and Tahmina, who lost their two children, Nazia Tabassum Nijhum and Arian Ashraf Nafi, say they are struggling to rebuild their lives.
One of their key demands is permanent preservation of their children’s graves at Rajabari Pukurpar, but they say no authority has yet given them assurance.
Rezaul Karim, father of deceased student Shamimul Karim, said Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) is providing legal support and will formally represent families to secure punishment for those responsible and ensure compensation.
Col (retd) Nurunnabi, founder-principal of Milestone College, said the institution is working to secure compensation for victims’ families from the government.
He claimed that 80 per cent of traumatised students have returned to normalcy through counselling, while four remain severely affected, and the state is taking steps to send one of them abroad for treatment.
He also said the school building had been constructed with approval from the Harirampur Union Parishad, not Rajuk.
