1.⁠ ⁠On July 21, 2025, at around 9:30 in the morning, a tragic plane crash at Milestone School and College in Sector-11, Uttara, Dhaka plunged the entire nation into mourning. A training aircraft crashed in a densely populated school area, endangering the lives of students, teachers, and local residents. Within just a few minutes, an ordinary educational institution was turned into a site of deadly catastrophe. This tragedy is not merely a matter of personal or institutional loss; it raises serious questions about citizen safety, military training protocols, and the irresponsibility of state authorities. It compels us to reflect on how secure public life really is and where the state failed in its duty.

2.⁠ ⁠At the canteen of Milestone School and College, one of the busiest and most crowded areas of Dhaka, about 40 students were having their meals during a class break. Suddenly, the sky roared with the deafening sound of a K-8W training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force. The aircraft lost control and crashed onto the canteen, causing a massive fire. The fact that such a tragic accident happened within minutes of the plane taking off from Tejgaon Air Base highlights a grave security failure. The way the fire spread rapidly left little chance for escape. Students at the crash site were terrified, darkness descended due to smoke, and despite attempts to flee, disaster struck swiftly. Though the pilot managed to eject using a parachute in time and survived, the lives of the children and teachers below could not be saved.

3.⁠ ⁠The death toll from the crash stands at 22, a truly horrific and tragic number. Among them were 19 students and teachers from the school, 1 Air Force pilot, and 2 others who died in hospital while undergoing treatment. Masuka Begum, a senior English teacher, suffered 90% burns and was admitted to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital; she passed away on July 22, 2025. Another teacher, Meherin Jahan, suffered 45% burns, was admitted to the Central Military Hospital, and died on July 23. Additionally, about 164 people were injured, with at least 25 in critical condition. Most of the injured are young students aged between 14 and 20, who are now physically and psychologically traumatized. The scale of the accident and the high death toll reflect the inadequacy of our military training and public safety systems.

4.⁠ ⁠The sacrifices of Masuka Begum and Meherin Jahan stand as beacons of light amidst this tragedy. Masuka Begum entered the flames to try and move students to safety, risking her own life. Her fearless bravery saved hundreds of students. Meherin Jahan also gave her life in the midst of intense fire and smoke while protecting students. They were not just teachers; they were symbols of revolutionary self-sacrifice who gave life. Their courage and humanity are unforgettable lessons and inspirations for us all.

5.⁠ ⁠It remains a mystery why military drills and training flights were authorized in such a densely populated school area. Despite the aviation and military authorities acknowledging risk zones, they failed to enforce limitations in practice. Where was the role of state authorities in ensuring public safety? Why were emergency safety regulations not followed? Why is there no clarity or accountability after the incident? These questions have become pertinent in public discourse and media. The families of the dead and injured have yet to receive any relief or assistance. Such negligence and failure have eroded public trust in the administration and the armed forces.

6.⁠ ⁠Despite the tragic nature of the incident, no message of condolence or sympathy was issued from the highest levels of the state. Neither the President, Prime Minister, nor Chief Advisor expressed any sorrow, and there was no discussion in Parliament. Families of the deceased and injured, along with teachers and guardians, expressed outrage and organized protests and human chains. They demanded a prompt and independent investigation to identify those responsible and ensure justice. This absence of justice could result in long-term social and political harm.

7.This tragedy makes it clear that military drills in densely populated areas must be completely banned. An independent investigation commission must be formed immediately, with a transparent and timely public report. The families of the dead and injured must receive proper compensation, and all medical expenses must be borne by the state. Masuka Begum, Meherin Jahan, and other deceased teachers must be honored with state recognition. Moreover, all educational institutions must be mandated to implement specific and effective safety measures to prevent such future tragedies.

8.The Milestone School tragedy is a grim reflection of state security failures and systemic weaknesses. The sacrifices of Masuka Begum and Meherin Jahan call on us to uphold justice, responsibility, and vigilance regarding public safety. To prevent such sorrowful events in the future, state authorities must act decisively and responsibly. Citizens must also raise their voices for their rights and safety. Otherwise, we will continue to lose innocent lives and justice will remain elusive.

Badrul Alam
July 24, 2025
Dhaka

Fire in the Sky of Grief: The Diabari Jet Crash and a Sociological Reading of State Violence

Dhaka’s Diabari in Uttara—usually alive with the buzz of school bells, workers rushing, and morning routines—was suddenly engulfed in smoke, fire, and death. A military training jet of the Bangladesh Navy crashed into a densely populated residential area, instantly killing at least 19 people and injuring over 150. The entire city stood still in horror, pierced by sirens, screams, and burning debris.

But offering condolences alone is not enough. This tragedy demands deeper questions. Who authorized a military jet to fly over a civilian neighborhood? What was the necessity of this training flight? Whose safety was being rehearsed at the cost of civilian lives? Was this simply an accident—or a more silent form of state violence

The Sociology of Grief

A single death is a private loss. But nineteen deaths in a peaceful residential area, caused by an official activity of the state, transcend the personal and become a matter of collective, structural grief. This is not just mourning—it is a reflection of the ruptured relationship between the state and its citizens.

A state that chooses urban airspace for military training does not regard its people as citizens but as collateral. Such a vision transforms grief into anger, and mourn into resistance.

Militarization vs. Civil Safety

Across the world, militarization has often become a symbol of state power rather than security. In Bangladesh too, defense spending has increased dramatically over the past two decades, with modern technologies and expanded military forces. But whom does this readiness serve?

Flying a fighter jet over a residential neighborhood is a direct imposition of risk on civilian life. Security, which should protect the people, has instead endangered them. After the crash, experts will speak of mechanical failure, pilot error, or unfortunate coincidence. But rarely will they speak of the systemic, policy-level choices that make such disasters possible.

A New Face of State Violence

Violence isn’t always about guns or disappearances. It also occurs when those in power make decisions that endanger people’s lives without their consent. The destruction brought by the Diabari crash is a form of undeclared state violence—no war, no warning, yet death as in war.

This form of violence demands accountability. Who will accept responsibility for the lives lost? Who will compensate the families? Who will guarantee this will never happen again? And more crucially, will those who raise these questions be heard—or will they be dismissed as ‘anti-state’?

Toward an Alternative Concept of State

What we need now is not just compensation or inquiry. We need a rethinking of the security doctrine embedded in the state. Is the state so obsessed with preparing for war that it treats civilian lives as secondary? Or can we imagine a system where the architecture of the state puts people’s safety above all else?

The answer to this question will determine the kind of state we want. One where training does not come with civilian death. One where the sky is filled with people’s hopes—not explosives. One where citizens are not merely taxpayers or voters—but the rightful owners of the state.

Conclusion: Turn Grief into Protest

Let this tragedy not remain just another statistic. Let grief become resistance. Let this moment of mourning spark a demand—for a state that puts human life at the center of all policy.

There is fire in today’s sky of grief. But if from that fire emerges a new consciousness, a renewed civic movement—then this grief will not be in vain.

Badrul Alam
President
Bangladesh Krishok Federstion