Dhaka- At least 20 people were killed and over 170 injured after a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI jet crashed into the Milestone College campus in Dhaka on Monday, triggering fire and chaos in the densely populated area.
The training aircraft took off from the Kurmitola Air Base at 1:06pm as part of a routine flight exercise but developed a technical malfunction shortly afterward, according to a military spokesperson.
Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury said the pilot attempted to steer the plane away from populated zones but ultimately crashed into a two-storey building of the school and college.
The pilot was among the fatalities. Authorities have launched a high-level investigation into the cause of the crash.
National Mourning Declared
In response to the tragedy, the government has announced a day of national mourning. Flags will fly at half-mast at all public institutions across the country and at Bangladeshi missions abroad.
Special prayers will be held across mosques, temples, churches, and other places of worship in memory of the victims.
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus described the incident as a “heartbreaking national tragedy” and vowed full support for victims and their families. “The damage to students, parents, and the armed forces is beyond repair,” he said.
Emergency Response and Casualties
At least three platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to the site in Uttara to aid in rescue efforts and maintain law and order.
Dhaka Medical College and Hospital received many of the injured. According to Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit, one child was declared dead on arrival, while others, aged between 12 and 40, were in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and devastation. “There was a loud blast and fire everywhere. I saw black smoke and children crying,” said Masud Tarik, a teacher at the college.
Aircraft Details and Past Incidents
The F-7 BGI is the latest variant of the Chinese-built Chengdu J-7, a licensed version of the Soviet MiG-21. Bangladesh had acquired 16 of these jets between 2011 and 2013.
This crash follows a similar disaster last month in India, where an Air India flight crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, killing over 260 people, marking one of the worst aviation disasters in a decade.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the Dhaka tragedy, stating Pakistan stands with the people of Bangladesh in this difficult time.
