In brief
On July 21, 2025, a Bangladeshi Air Force training aircraft crashed into Milestone School in Dhaka, killing 36 people and leaving dozens injured. A year on, students and families gather for a memorial, grappling with trauma and unresolved questions. Survivors report fear, nightmares, and loss of educational prospects. The investigative committee blamed building code violations and inadequate training, but its full report remains unreleased, prompting demands for public disclosure and compensation.
On a normal school day in 2024, a Bangladeshi Air Force training aircraft shot down onto Milestone School, a private institution in Dhaka’s Uttara neighbourhood. The crash claimed 36 lives — mostly children — and left many with severe burns. One year later, students, parents, and staff gather to commemorate the victims and to demand clarity about why a jet fell on their school.
Sixteen-year-old Nure Jannat Yusha, who sustained a burn injury, spoke to BBC Bengali, saying, “I’m afraid when I see a plane. I dream of fire.” Her mother, Yasin Akter, reported that the crash diverted her daughter’s aspirations from dancing to a life of anxiety.
Across the city, students like Mehreen, a fifth‑grade student whose burns force her to skip school, describe sleepless nights and academic setbacks: “I can no longer memorize text; I can’t sleep.” These voices echo a broader demand for medical support and a transparent investigation.
Investigative Findings and the Call for Transparency
An investigative commission, set up by the government, submitted its report in November 2025 but has yet to release it publicly. The report attributes the disaster to several factors: the school’s non‑compliance with building codes, dozens of nearby structures exceeding airport height restrictions, and the pilot’s insufficient flight training and lack of ground supervision. No technical fault was found in the aircraft, contrary to initial claims by the Armed Forces.
Families, led by victim‑husband Mansur Helal, urge the government to publish the full report and provide financial aid for survivors, as the investigative committee recommends. Helal said, “No one can guarantee that another plane will not fall on this school.”
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain pledged support for survivors needing further treatment. Prime Minister’s wife Zubaida Rahman hailed the courage of those who endured the tragedy. Yet many affected children, particularly those with severe burns, continue to face physical and psychological challenges.
