Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: AP

On Monday, a very sad and shocking incident happened in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. A training jet belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed on the campus of a college, killing at least one person and injuring many others. This accident has left the entire nation in grief and fear.

How did the accident happen?

According to the military’s public relations department, the Bangladesh Air Force’s F-7 BGI training aircraft took off from its base at exactly 1:06 pm. After take-off, it was flying as part of a regular training exercise. However, soon after, something went wrong, and the jet lost control. The aircraft crashed in the Uttara area, which is in the northern part of Dhaka.

The plane fell directly onto the campus of Milestone School and College. This college is a well-known educational institution in Dhaka and has around 2,000 students studying from elementary classes up to class twelve. On Monday, many students were present on campus for their regular classes, while some were taking their tests.

Casualties and injuries

After the crash, huge flames and smoke rose from the area where the jet fell. Videos shared by local people showed a massive fire burning near the college lawn with thick black smoke covering the sky. People could be seen standing at a distance, shocked and scared, watching the tragic scene.
Officials said that at least one person died in this crash, but the exact number of deaths is still not clear because some people are badly injured and fighting for their lives in hospitals. A doctor from the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery said that more than 50 people, including children and adults, were admitted with burn injuries. Many of them are in serious condition, and doctors are doing their best to save them.
A military spokesperson explained that the death toll might rise as they are still checking the situation and helping those who are trapped or injured.

Panic and fear among parents

After hearing about the accident, many parents rushed to the college to see if their children were safe. The scene was full of chaos, with parents crying and searching for their kids. Some rescuers used rickshaws and whatever vehicles were available to take the injured to nearby hospitals quickly. There were sounds of ambulances and cries of people filling the area.
One student named Rafiqa Taha, who was not in school at the time of the accident, said, “I was terrified watching the videos on TV. My God, it’s my school!” The 16-year-old could not believe that such a dangerous accident happened in her school, where she goes every day to study.

Government response and investigation

Muhammad Yunus, who is the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, expressed deep sadness over the accident. He called the incident “irreparable loss” for the Bangladesh Air Force as well as for the students, parents, teachers, and staff of the school.
He promised that necessary measures would be taken to investigate the cause of this accident thoroughly. He also said that the government will make sure all kinds of assistance are provided to the victims and their families. The government wants to find out why this crash happened and how such tragedies can be avoided in the future.

How many were injured?

Different reports have given slightly different numbers of injured people. One report said that at least 13 people, including students, were injured, while another report said that more than 20 people were taken to hospitals with burn injuries, most of whom were students.

What kind of jet was it?

The jet that crashed was an F-7 BGI training aircraft. This aircraft is used by the Bangladesh Air Force for training new pilots. It is a Chinese-made jet and has been used in many countries for pilot training purposes. Although it is not a very modern fighter jet, it is still used in Bangladesh for learning exercises. Now, questions are being raised about the safety and maintenance of these aircraft.

Previous aviation disasters raise concern.

This sad incident in Dhaka comes just a month after a major plane crash in India. In Ahmedabad, India, an Air India plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel building, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground. That crash was one of the worst aviation disasters in the last ten years worldwide. These frequent air accidents in South Asian countries are causing fear among the public about air safety standards and the maintenance of aircraft.

Impact on the school and community

The crash has created a feeling of fear and sadness in the entire Uttara community. Students, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College are still in shock. Many students saw the burning plane and the flames with their own eyes. They are traumatised and will need counselling to recover from this frightening experience.
Parents are now worried about the safety of their children in schools located near airports or air force bases. They want the government to take strict safety measures so that no such accidents happen again in the future.

Why did the crash happen?

At present, no one knows the exact reason for the crash. Experts say that there could be many reasons, like technical problems in the jet, human error, or sudden engine failure. The Bangladesh Air Force, along with government investigation teams, will study all the evidence, check the aircraft parts, and talk to technical experts to find out what went wrong.

Message from the Prime Minister

Though the interim government head has spoken, people are expecting a formal message from the Prime Minister soon, expressing grief over the deaths and injuries and promising better air safety regulations.

This terrible accident has taken away innocent lives and injured many young students who were just attending classes like any other normal day. It has created grief and fear among parents, students, and teachers. It has also raised important questions about air safety in Bangladesh and the safety of people living near airbases or airports.

The government, military, and aviation authorities must work together to ensure that such disasters do not happen again. People’s lives are precious, and protecting them should be the priority of any country.