“I saw many younger students burning with my own eyes. Some were torn apart. I couldn’t tell whether I was dreaming or awake,” said Miraj, an eleventh-grade student at Milestone School and College in Uttara. He was recounting the horrifying moments of a disaster no less than diabolical one can ever imagine.
The emotional scars run deep. Even those who were not physically present on the day of the jet crash, including students who stayed home, are grappling with psychological trauma. The memories of charred remains and chaos have left on indelible imprint one the entire school community.
The authorities at Milestone School have announced that all classes and examinations will remain suspended for the rest of the week.
The school’s English-section principal of the Diabari campus, Captain (Retd) Jahangir Alam Khan, confirmed that a government investigation committee is currently working on the case.
“Many students are still suffering from severe trauma,” he said. “We have deployed three counsellors on campus to lend them support to regain normalcy. Parents and students are visiting and speaking to the mental health professionals. In such a situation, it is not feasible to resume academic activities. Authorities are yet to decide when classes will resume. However, it is possible that classes will resume next week”
Five days after the tragic crash, people still gathered outside the school gates on Saturday, attempting to have a glimpse of the devastated site through the partially open gate. While the school barred journalists and curious onlookers from entering, students and their parents were permitted inside.
At around 11:00am, seventh-grade student Junayed Siddiqui arrived at the campus, school ID card around his neck. After half an hour of quietly walking the premises, he left and spoke briefly to reporters: “The sound of the crash was deafening. It felt like my eardrums would burst. We ran in panic. Later, we came to see the building that was struck and found children’s torn apart limbs scattered. Many had burned. I can’t sleep at night because those images haunt me. I can’t imagine sitting for exams like this.”
Psychologists warn that children exposed to such violent incidents often develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nightmares, and long-term anxiety if support systems are inadequate. Milestone’s attempt to offer counselling is a positive step, but experts say this must continue for weeks—if not months.
Two more victims, including a schoolboy, died from burn injuries on Saturday, following the military fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College in the capital's Uttara, raising the death toll to 35.
The deceased were identified as Zarif Farhan, 13, a seventh-grade student from the English version section of Milestone School, and Masuma, 38, a support staff member who worked as an ayah at the institution.
According to hospital sources, Zarif succumbed to his injuries at 9:10am, followed by Masuma, who passed away at 10:15am, both in the Intensive Care Unit of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS).
Residential Surgeon of the institute Dr Shawon Bin Rahman said that Zarif had sustained 40 percent burns, while Masuma suffered 90 percent burns.
Zarif's father Md Habibur Rahman said his son was the younger of two siblings. Habibur is originally from Rajbari Sadar upazila and now lives in Sector-12 of Uttara.
Md Selim, husband of Masuma, said she had been working at the school for several years. The couple has a son and a daughter. They are originally from Borhanuddin upazila in Bhola and currently reside in the Shukravanga area of Nayanagar under Turag.
With the latest deaths, 17 victims have died at the NIBPS, one at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), 15 at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), and one at Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College Hospital.
Four individuals remain in critical condition at the NIBPS, according to Professor Dr Md Nasir Uddin, Director of the institute.
Speaking at a press briefing held around 2:45pm on Saturday, Dr Nasir confirmed that 36 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the facility. “Among them, four are in critical condition and are being kept under intensive care,” he said.
The director also announced that two injured students — Rafsi, 12, and Ayaan Khan, 12, — have shown significant improvement and were discharged Saturday.
“There are nine patients listed under the CBR (Critical Burn Recovery) category, while the remaining are admitted across various general wards,” Dr Nasir added. He further said that the hospital expects to release 10 more patients over the next week, subject to medical evaluation.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday (July 21) when an FT-7 fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into a two-storey building of Milestone School and College in Uttara shortly after takeoff around 1:00pm, reportedly due to a mechanical failure. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, lost his life in the crash.
The jet crash has left the community devastated, with families mourning and students struggling to recover from the trauma. Authorities have continued counselling efforts and postponed classes as the investigation into the incident continues.
