Govt Proposes Up to Tk1cr for Milestone Crash Victims

Volunteers collect and gather parts of the wrecked plane from the Milestone School and College grounds, a day after the devastating aircraft crash.

The government is set to finalise a compensation package for those killed and injured in the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara, proposing payments of up to Tk1 crore for families of the deceased.

According to finance ministry documents, the proposal will be placed for approval at an inter-ministerial meeting on December 31.

Under the draft plan, families of children and students under 18 who died in the crash would receive Tk1 crore each, while families of deceased adults would be given Tk80 lakh.

Compensation for injured survivors will vary based on the severity of burn injuries. Children with severe or long-term burns may receive up to Tk60 lakh, while adults could get up to Tk40 lakh. Those with moderate injuries would receive Tk30 lakh for children and Tk20 lakh for adults, while victims with minor injuries would be eligible for Tk15 lakh for children and Tk10 lakh for adults.

The government also plans a separate medical rehabilitation package. Burn victims requiring treatment for up to 15 years would receive Tk15 lakh for medical expenses, those needing care for around 10 years would get Tk9 lakh, and victims requiring treatment for about five years would receive Tk1 lakh, based on treatment guidelines of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

To ensure long-term financial security, half of the compensation for families of the deceased will be paid in cash, with the remainder invested in government savings certificates for five years. In the case of injured children, part of the compensation will be paid in instalments, while the rest will be kept in long-term savings inaccessible until the child turns 25. Similar arrangements will apply to injured adults, with a five-year lock-in period.

The funds will be drawn from the Disaster Management Fund and District Disaster Management Funds. Officials said the compensation amounts were recommended by a government-formed investigation commission, which considered the long-term physical, psychological, financial and social impact on the victims and their families.

The commission did not propose a separate compensation package for the family of the pilot who died in the crash, noting that compensation would be provided under Bangladesh Air Force regulations.

The crash occurred on July 21, when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into a building on the Milestone School and College campus in Diabari, Uttara. At least 35 people were killed and around 172 others injured, most of them schoolchildren, many with severe burn injuries.