At least 22 dead as Air Force jet crashes into Milestone College

Key updates-

At least 22 people have been killed and at least 169 injured
Air Force F7 jet crashed inside Milestone College premises in Uttara
The aircraft took off at 1:06pm and crashed around 1:30pm
Fighter jet pilot Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam Sagar dies
Milestone teacher Maherin Chowdhury dies
Emergency response teams deployed for rescue operations
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expresses profound shock and sorrow

A Bangladesh Air Force F7 aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone College in Dhaka’s Uttara around 1:30pm. Bangladesh Army and fire service started rescue operations.

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Today’s HSC, equivalent exams postponed: Mahfuj Alam

The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations scheduled for today have been postponed, according to Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam.

According to a statement signed by Md Mamun-or-Rashid, public relations officer of the information and broadcasting ministry, the HSC and equivalent exams scheduled for today have been postponed following yesterday’s Air Force fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara’s Diabari.

1:45am

Identities of 13 victims confirmed

The identities of 13 of the 22 victims in the fatal fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College yesterday has been confirmed.

Eight bodies were handed over to the family from 7:20pm to 10:50pm last night, according to the ISPR.

Their identities are — Fatema Akhter, 9, daughter of Gani Sheikh, of Bagerhat; Samiul Karim, 9, of Barishal; Rajoni Islam, 37, of Kushtia; Mehnaz Afrin Huraira, 9, of Tangail; Sharia Akhter, 13, daughter of Rafique Mollah of Dhaka; Nusrat Jahan Anika, 10, of Dhaka; Saad Salauddin, 9, son of Mukul Salauddin of Dhaka’s Mirpur; Saima Akhter, 9, daughter of Shah Alam, of Gazipur.

Meanwhile, the body of Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar has been kept at the morgue.

Earlier, Resident Surgeon of National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery Shawon bin Rahman confirmed four deaths at his hospital.

The deceased are Milestone School and College teacher Maherin Chowdhury, 14, and students AB Shamim, 14, Afnan, 14, and Tanvir, 14.

12:25am

UK Foreign Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West said she is deeply saddened by reports of a Bangladesh Air Force jet that has crashed into a school in Dhaka, with many children affected.

“My thoughts are with all those who have suffered, especially the families of the victims and the injured,” she posted on X.

12:01am (Tuesday, July 22)

Teacher Maherin Chowdhury, 3 student dies at burn institute

Milestone School and College teacher Maherin Chowdhury, 46, and students AB Shamim, 14, Tanvir, 14, and Afnan, 14, died under treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Resident Surgeon of the hospital Shawon bin Rahman confirmed the matter last night.

11:53pm

Yunus assures probe into aircraft crash, urges all not to crowd hospitals

Assuring an investigation into the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) aircraft that crashed into a building of Milestone School and College in Uttara area, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged all not to unnecessarily crowd the hospitals where the injured are being treated.

“We will definitely carry out an investigation. But an investigation will not bring them [the victims of the aircraft crash] back. We have taken steps to ensure proper treatment,” he said in a video message, expressing deep shock over the tragic incident.

11:35pm

The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka has expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in the plane crash in Dhaka.

In an official Facebook page, it offered deepest condolences to the victims and sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

10:40pm

Russia today expressed sorrow over the Bangladesh Air Force F7 BGI fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara’s Diabari in Dhaka.

The Russian Embassy in Bangladesh, in a statement, said it was deeply saddened by the crash of Bangladesh Air Force aircraft on the campus of Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims. We wish quick recovery to the injured.”

10:30pm

Pain crowds hospital corridors

In the aftermath of a devastating Air Force plane crash into a school, Dhaka’s hospitals were thrust into chaos, becoming the frontline of a tragedy that shook the city to its core. The corridors of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery became a scene of anguish as scores of critically injured, most of them children, arrived in waves. They were victims of a tragedy too large to grasp.

10:20pm

Khaleda expresses condolences in Uttara jet crash

In a statement issued by the party, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia expressed her condolences and urged everyone to stand by the families of those died and injured in the incident.

In the statement, Khaleda and Tarique have instructed leaders and activists of all BNP units and affiliated organisations to extend their full support to the victims’ families.

9:40pm

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he is deeply saddened at the loss of precious lives due to the crash of an Air Force jet over an educational institution in Dhaka and offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery.

“My deepest sympathies are with the government, its leadership and the people of Bangladesh in this hour of grief,” he said.

9:20pm

Shehbaz Sharif expresses condolences to families of Uttara crash victims

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today said he was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the aircraft crash and expressed heartfelt condolences to the people of Bangladesh, especially the families of the victims, many of them young children.

“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Bangladesh in these difficult moments,” he posted on X.

9:12pm

DGHS orders free treatment for Uttara crash victims

The Directorate General of Health Services has directed all private hospitals to provide free medical treatment to victims injured in today’s jet crash at Milestone School and College in Diabari’s Uttara in Dhaka.

The government will bear the cost of treatment for all injured patients, according to an official statement issued by Moinul Ahsan, director (hospitals and clinics) of the DGHS.

9:00pm

Lying next to each other, two siblings struggle for life with extensive burns

Siblings Aryan Ashraf Nafi and Tania Ashraf Nazia lie side by side at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, their small bodies covered in bandages.

Nafi, a class 2 student, suffered 95 percent burns, while his sister Nazia, in class 6, had burns covering 80 percent of her body. Both are students at Milestone School and College – and they are now fighting for their lives in hospital beds.