“I took the oath to die for my country, the kids didn’t”- BAF Officer

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) is engulfed in grief following the tragic crash of an FT-7BGI fighter jet into Milestone School and College in Uttara, which claimed 31 lives, including 29 children and a teacher. While the loss of Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam, the pilot, has deeply shaken his coursemates, seniors, and juniors, the BAF community insists the focus must remain on the civilian victims—especially the young students and their families—who bore the brunt of this devastating incident. The tragedy, described as the deadliest aviation incident in the capital in decades, has left the nation reeling, with military officers and civilians alike mourning the loss of young lives.

“We take an oath to die for our country, to protect every civilian,” said a BAF officer, speaking anonymously to The Daily Campus. “But the children, the teacher, and every civilian who lost their lives or loved ones did not sign up for this sacrifice. Their loss leaves us speechless, bound by sorrow.” Members of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force, all sworn to safeguard the nation, expressed profound anguish over the tragedy, emphasizing that the pain of civilian casualties, particularly children, overshadows their own grief for a fallen comrade.

The crash, caused by a mechanical failure during a routine training mission, has left families shattered and the nation in mourning. The BAF officer’s words echo the sentiment across the forces: while they are prepared to give their lives, the unintended loss of innocent civilians—especially schoolchildren—cuts deeper than any personal sacrifice.

The jet, on a routine training mission, took off from BAF Base Bir Uttom A. K. Khandker in Kurmitola at 1:06 PM (BST) and crashed minutes later into the school’s Haider Ali Building due to a mechanical failure, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam, attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas but could not prevent it from striking the building, igniting a massive fire. A BAF officer, speaking anonymously, said, “We take an oath to die for our country, but the children didn’t. Their loss is what haunts us.”

Among the victims were siblings Tahiya Tabassum Nadia (13), a Class 6 student, and Nafi Islam (9), a Class 3 student, from Kamarpara, Uttara, originally from Daulatkhana, Bhola. Nadia, injured in the crash, died at 3:00 AM Monday at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where she was under treatment. Her body, with 90% burns, was buried in Kamarpara, as confirmed by family sources. Nafi, also with 90% burns, remains in critical condition in the ICU. Their father, Ashraful Islam Nirab, a retired army officer, is devastated, grappling with his daughter’s death and his son’s fight for life.

Another victim, Sayan Yusuf (14), a Class 7 student, died at 3:50 AM in the Burn Institute’s ICU with 95% burns. His father, Yusuf, an assistant professor of chemistry at Milestone, and his mother, a chemistry lecturer at the same institution, were inconsolable. “I won’t stay in this country anymore,” Yusuf said, his voice breaking. “Politicians have polluted this nation.” Other identified victims include Bappi (9), Erickson (13), Arian (13), Nazia (14), and teacher Masuka, all of whom succumbed to severe burns.

Teacher Purnima Das, who was in the building during the crash, shared her harrowing experience on Facebook, a post that went viral. “I had just left my class when the jet crashed, setting the corridor ablaze,” she wrote. “I saw children running, their bodies on fire. I poured water on some, but then a colleague collapsed at my feet, burning. I stood frozen until someone pulled me out.” The building housed Classes 3 to 5 (Bangla medium) and 6 to 8 (English medium), with 100–150 students present, many waiting for guardians after school ended at 1:00 PM.

Teacher Meherin Chowdhury (46) heroically saved at least 20 students by evacuating them from classrooms before succumbing to burns herself. Now under treatment at the Burn Institute with part of her body scorched, Meherin was praised by a student’s father, Sumon, who said, “The army told us her quick actions saved at least 20 children.” A Class 4 student, Chhowa, was rescued by Meherin but sustained injuries and is being treated at PG Hospital. Her uncle recounted, “I saw her with burnt hair and fainted. A teacher ensured she was taken to safety.”

As of Tuesday noon, the death toll reached 31, with 165 injured, according to ISPR. The Combined Military Hospital (CMH) reported 16 deaths, the Burn Institute 10, and others at Dhaka Medical College, Lubana General, Uttara Adhunik, and United Hospitals. Of the 46 patients at the Burn Institute, 20 are in critical condition. Professor Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, noted that 78 people remain hospitalized, most in critical condition, and six bodies are yet to be identified. He appealed for blood donors to support treatment efforts.

Rescue operations involved nine fire service units, six ambulances, and members of the army, air force, navy, and Border Guard Bangladesh. The government declared Tuesday a national day of mourning, with flags at half-mast across government, semi-government, and educational institutions, as well as Bangladesh missions abroad. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed profound grief, promising a thorough investigation into the crash.

The incident, which disrupted Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams, has amplified calls for relocating training flights to less populated areas. The nation mourns the loss of young lives, with hospitals and morgues filled with grieving families, their pain echoing across Dhaka.