Dhaka, July 22: Widespread protests erupted in Dhaka on Tuesday following a devastating air crash that killed 31 people and injured over 160, sparking public outrage and demands for immediate government accountability. The crash occurred on Monday when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft plunged into Milestone School and College in Uttara around 1:30 PM.
Chaos unfolded at the crash site and outside the Secretariat as hundreds of students took to the streets demanding the resignation of the Education Secretary and Education Advisor of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. Protesters accused the government of mismanagement and misinformation regarding the incident and demanded a complete, verified list of the deceased and injured, along with clear compensation details for affected families.
Tensions escalated when Law Advisor Asif Nazrul, Education Advisor C R Abrar, and Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam arrived at the school for inspection but were confined to a room by angry students. Protesters demanded answers and accountability, also calling for an immediate ban on the use of outdated and unsafe aircraft used by the Bangladesh Air Force.
Reports have also surfaced that teachers and guardians were assaulted on Monday night, allegedly by army personnel. Students demanded strict action and transparency on these incidents.
Responding to the growing unrest, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus released a statement assuring that all student demands would be reviewed. An information centre has been set up at Milestone School to update casualty data and missing persons lists. Compensation, rehabilitation, and trauma support are being arranged, he added.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the aircraft took off at 1:06 PM and crashed less than 30 minutes later. Most of the deceased are students, compounding the tragedy and fueling the protests.
