BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has raised concerns about conducting flight training in densely populated areas following the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) training aircraft crash at Milestone School in Uttara.
While visiting injured victims at Uttara Modern Medical College Hospital on Monday afternoon, Rizvi told journalists, “It is difficult to understand why flight training is being conducted in such congested areas when open spaces like Jashore or Cox’s Bazar.”
Accompanied by Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee and other party leaders, Rizvi said, “I may not understand technical aviation matters, but common sense dictates you can’t operate training aircraft amid such residential density. The government bears responsibility. If they keep shirking their duty, people’s lives will continue to be endangered.”
He criticised urban planning failures: “Authorities should regulate settlements near airports. Current congestion suggests unplanned development.” The BNP leader confirmed party workers were providing medical assistance and blood donations under acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s directives, with some party programs suspended for relief efforts.
Earlier during the day, a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College campus after takeoff, killing at least 19 and injuring 164, according to ISPR.