Bangladesh Jet Crash Sparks Student Protests Over Tragedy

Dhaka, Jul 22 (PTI) — Thousands of students gathered in protest on Tuesday, demanding transparency regarding the casualties and compensation for families affected by the tragic Bangladesh Air Force training jet crash, which resulted in the death toll rising to 31, including 25 children. The F-7 BGI aircraft, a Chinese-made training fighter jet, crashed into a school building in Dhaka's Uttara area shortly after takeoff due to a mechanical failure, according to officials.

The military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed that the number of fatalities reached 31. Special Adviser to the Chief Adviser, Saidur Rahman, reported that 25 of those who perished were children, many under 12, who succumbed to severe burn injuries. The casualties also included the pilot and a school teacher.

ISPR detailed that 16 individuals died at the Combined Military Hospital, 10 at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, two at Lubana General Hospital, and one each at several other hospitals. Currently, 165 people are receiving treatment, with some in critical condition, potentially increasing the death toll further.

Students from Milestone School and College, as well as nearby schools, demonstrated to demand accurate casualty information, compensation for victims' families, and the immediate grounding of outdated Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, Education Adviser CR Abrar, and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam visited the crash site but were confronted by the protesting students, who voiced demands and alleged that the authorities were withholding the true death toll. The advisers sought shelter inside a school building amidst the siege by the students demanding transparency and apologies for the treatment of teachers at the crash site.

Protesters want a complete injured list and specific reforms in Air Force training procedures for improved safety. Adviser Nazrul acknowledged the validity of student demands, stating accountability is necessary.

Simultaneously, hundreds besieged the Bangladesh Secretariat complex in Dhaka, facing police force when trying to enter. This resulted in injuries among the students and calls for the resignation of Education Ministry leaders.

The Information Adviser announced the removal of Education Ministry’s senior secretary, Siddiq Zubair. In response to misinformation claims, a government statement firmly denied concealing death toll numbers.

So far, 20 bodies have been returned to families, while medical teams continue to provide critical care despite dire patient conditions, Rahman informed at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS).

Parents have been anxiously searching for missing children throughout the night. Bangladesh observed national mourning with flags at half-mast across government buildings and educational institutions, and a minute's silence observed by the judiciary.

The crashed aircraft, an advanced variant of China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 family, was part of a 16-aircraft deal finalized in 2013. A high-level investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, with efforts made by the pilot to avert populated areas being noted by the ISPR, though the aircraft ultimately hit the school building.

This incident is among Bangladesh's deadliest aviation tragedies, reminiscent of the 1984 crash that claimed 49 lives during a severe storm at Dhaka airport.

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