Distraught students demand answers after plane crash turned Bangladesh school into ‘death trap’

A tragic air disaster in Dhaka has left Bangladesh in mourning after a military jet crashed into a school, killing at least 31 people, most of them children.

On Monday afternoon, a Bangladesh Air Force FT-7 jet experienced a mechanical failure during a routine training flight. The aircraft plummeted into the Milestone School and College campus, turning a quiet school day into chaos. At least 25 of the dead were students between the ages of six and 13. Another 165 people were injured, many with severe burns, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) office.

“It’s like this building was turned into a death trap. It was horrible, totally horrible,” said Sheik Rameen, a 21-year-old student at the school who witnessed the impact.

The building engulfed by the flames was one of about 20 on campus. Witnesses described a deafening sound, followed by a fireball and screams for help.

“I saw a burnt child seek help, but nobody came to help them,” Rameen added, visibly shaken.

Families rushed to the scene after hearing the news. Among them was Muhammad Aslam, whose 9-year-old son, Zunayet Hasan, died in the crash. The boy’s older brother survived.

“I went and hugged him strongly, and my own chest was burned. After I held him, I felt like life returned to me,” Aslam said.

Zunayet, who was studying in Class 3, was found through a Facebook post showing his ID card. He was placed on life support but later died from his injuries.

“What I witnessed with my own eyes, the bodies, the corpses. How would I know this was my son?” Aslam said, still in shock.

The crash has triggered protests. On Tuesday, hundreds of students and parents gathered at the site, demanding transparency. Some chanted, “Fake, fake,” accusing the government of downplaying the death toll.

Authorities have denied any cover-up. The Chief Adviser’s press wing told state media BSS News that identities are still being verified.

The jet’s pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, reportedly attempted to steer the plane away from the densely populated area before impact. He died in the crash.

The FT-7 is an advanced version of China’s Chengdu J-7 fighter jet. Bangladesh acquired the jets in 2013, according to Jane’s Information Group.

Emergency crews worked overnight to clear debris. Hospitals, including the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, became overcrowded. Most of the injured treated there are children under 12.

Resident surgeon Harunur Rashid told Reuters, “It’s the worst incident we’ve seen involving children in many years.”

The country’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, addressed the nation in a somber video message. “None of us ever imagined it. We had to suddenly accept this unbelievable reality,” he said.

Yunus described the children as “burned to death in the fire.”

“What answer can we give to their parents? What can we possibly say to them?” he asked. “We can’t even answer ourselves.”

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