The jet, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam, had just taken off from a nearby air force base for a routine training exercise when it experienced a critical malfunction. The pilot attempted to steer the aircraft toward a less populated area to minimize casualties but ultimately crashed into a two-story building on the school campus, sparking a massive fire and thick plumes of smoke.
Witnesses described harrowing scenes. Rezaul Islam, a teacher at the college, told BBC Bangla he saw the plane strike the building directly. Another teacher, Masud Tarik, recounted to Reuters hearing an explosion and seeing flames and smoke as he turned around. A student reported witnessing the jet hit the building “right in front of my eyes.” The school serves students aged 4 to 18, and more than 50 people, including children and adults, were rushed to hospitals with severe burns, according to a doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Emergency responders are combing through the charred rubble for survivors, while crowds of onlookers gathered on nearby streets and rooftops to watch the rescue efforts. The armed forces have established an investigation committee to determine the cause of the crash.
Muhammad Yunus, leader of Bangladesh’s interim government, expressed profound sorrow and promised a thorough investigation. “This is a moment of deep sorrow for the nation,” he said in a post on X, urging hospitals and authorities to prioritize assistance for the victims. A national day of mourning has been declared for Tuesday, with the flag to be flown at half-mast across the country.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Bangladesh, raising questions about aviation safety and the proximity of military training operations to civilian areas. The air force base is located a short distance from the school, highlighting the risks of such operations near densely populated zones.