Bangladesh Families Seek Justice After Jet Crash Tragedy

One year after a deadly jet crash in Dhaka, families of victims demand accountability and answers from authorities amid ongoing struggles for survivors.

One year has passed since a tragic crash involving a Bangladeshi air force jet devastated a school in Dhaka, resulting in the deaths of 36 individuals, the majority of whom were children. On that fateful day, what began as a typical school day for sixth-grade student Nure Jannat Yusha abruptly turned chaotic as the aircraft struck her school, Milestone School and College, turning an environment filled with youthful energy into a scene of horror.

The incident marked the deadliest aviation disaster Bangladesh had witnessed in several decades. This week, families of those affected gathered to remember the lives lost and to express their frustration and longing for justice. Survivors, including Yusha, are still grappling with the repercussions of that day. “Even now, when I go to school and see a plane, I feel afraid. I can’t sleep at night. In my dreams, someone is throwing me into the fire,” she recounted during a memorial event.

Yusha’s mother, Yasin Akter, shared the profound changes her daughter has undergone since the crash. “My daughter screams all day and is afraid. Earlier she wanted to become a dancer, but now she has lost all will to pursue her studies. She doesn’t want to study anymore,” Akter lamented.

The crash occurred on July 21, 2025, at around 1:00 PM local time, shortly after a training aircraft had taken off from a nearby air force base. Eyewitnesses described the scene as emergency crews desperately searched through the wreckage for survivors.

In the wake of the tragedy, an investigation commission was established to look into the circumstances surrounding the crash. However, many families remain dissatisfied with the lack of transparency regarding the findings of this investigation. To date, the committee’s report, submitted to the government last November, has yet to be disclosed to the public.

According to a document obtained by BBC Bengali, the report pointed to several serious issues, including Milestone School’s failure to comply with building safety codes and the existence of numerous nearby structures violating height regulations. The findings pointed to inadequate training for the pilot as well, indicating that no mechanical fault had contributed to the crash, an assertion that contradicted initial claims from the Bangladeshi Armed Forces.

Attending the memorial event, Mansur Helal, who lost his wife, a schoolteacher, in the disaster, expressed the distress of uncertain safety for students. “No one can give a guarantee that another plane will not fall onto this school in the future. This is truly a horrific situation. Every day, around 2,500-3,000 students go to that school,” he said, raising alarms about existing vulnerabilities.

Helal, along with other mourning families, are demanding that the government release the full details of the investigation, alongside adequate support for victims and their families, which had reportedly been part of the committee’s recommendations. Although Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain assured that the government would assist with medical needs of survivors, lingering issues of support and compensation remain unaddressed.

The emotional toll is evident among survivors like Mehreen, a fifth grader who shared her struggles: “If I get a little sunlight, my whole body burns. Because of that, I do not go to school anymore. It’s affected my sleep and ability to study. I can’t memorize anything like I used to before the incident.” These sentiments resonate with the wider community as they continue to seek justice and answers for their lost loved ones.