Students Protest Deadly Air Force Crash at Milestone

Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area witnessed intense protests overnight, as students took to the streets with six major demands following a tragic Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crash that killed at least 27 people.

As of 4:15 AM on Tuesday, the demonstrations were still ongoing.

The protest began around 2:00 AM on Monday night (July 21) after a military aircraft crashed into a building on the Milestone campus earlier that afternoon. The building, which housed many school-level students, caught fire immediately after the crash, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. Most of the victims were reportedly students inside the building at the time.

Students began gathering outside the college premises late at night, expressing frustration over the authorities’ lack of transparency and demanding accountability.

“We don’t even know the actual number of bodies,” said a second-year student. “An ambulance came into the college around 2 AM, stayed briefly, and then left. We have no idea what’s happening. Our parents and teachers are being kept out. So we’ve taken to the streets. We’re standing up against injustice, negligence, and impunity. Our demands are clear, and we are not backing down. We will continue protesting throughout the day.”
The students’ six key demands are:

    Immediate disclosure of the full names and identities of the deceased.

    A complete and accurate list of those injured in the crash.

    A public and unconditional apology for security personnel allegedly assaulting teachers during the aftermath.

    Financial compensation from the Bangladesh Air Force for the families of each deceased student.

    Immediate decommissioning of outdated and risky Air Force training aircraft and their replacement with modern equipment.

    Reformation of the Air Force’s training procedures and facilities to ensure safer, more humane practices.

Background:

The crash occurred shortly after 1:00 PM on Monday when a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft reportedly lost control and slammed into a building on the Milestone School and College campus. Both the aircraft and the building caught fire upon impact.

As of early Tuesday morning, authorities had confirmed 27 deaths. Rescue and recovery efforts continued through the night amid growing anger and grief from students, families, and faculty members.