Concern and question grip Dhaka

A shadow of mourning has descended across Dhaka, with eyes full of fear and lips asking questions. Ever since the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft in the Diabari area of Uttara, the atmosphere in the city has grown heavy with sorrow and anxiety. According to official reports, the crash has so far claimed 31 lives and left 165 injured.

Before the city could recover from the shock, student protests erupted in various parts of the capital. Grief-stricken students from Milestone School and College demanded the postponement of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam scheduled for 22 July. As the government failed to issue any decision by 3 AM Monday night, students from several colleges across Dhaka took to the streets in anger.

Students from Milestone College also alleged that the true number of casualties was being concealed. Accusing authorities of spreading false information regarding the deaths of children, they began protesting on campus from the morning of 23 July. When Legal Adviser Professor Asif Nazrul, Education Adviser C. R. Abrar, and the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam visited the crash site, they were surrounded and confined by the students.

At one point, clashes broke out between students and law enforcement personnel, injuring at least three students. The protests then spread as far as the Secretariat. A section of the demonstrators even entered the Secretariat, demanding the resignation of the Education Adviser. During the police crackdown inside the premises, at least 80 were reported injured.

These incidents triggered widespread panic across the city. In the evening, major roads in Dhaka appeared largely deserted, with a tense and uneasy calm settling over the capital. Law enforcement agencies were deployed at key intersections to maintain order.

While traveling through the city, Views Bangladesh spoke with Sanjida, a working woman and mother of a student. She said, “The way the situation is deteriorating, we’re even afraid to let our children step out of the house.”

Meanwhile, students from various colleges in Dhaka took to social media to express their grief and outrage over the deaths of Milestone College students.

Jannatul Hasna, a student of BAF Shaheen College, expressed her frustration, saying, “We are mentally devastated. Some of our fellow students are injured, some dead, and some still missing. In this state, we’re not in any condition to sit for exams.”

Many have also raised questions about the lack of transparency from authorities regarding the actual number of deaths. Both students and teachers have demanded that the government disclose the true casualty figures.

Fahmida Akhter, a teacher at a private school in Dhaka, told Views Bangladesh, “There is no justification for concealing the actual death toll. The state must stand with the people and acknowledge the truth.”

In response to the unrest at the Secretariat and to keep the situation under control, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and its Traffic Division acted swiftly. Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Mohammad Sarwar Hossain said, “We tried to ensure that city life did not come to a complete halt. We diverted traffic and rerouted vehicles to keep the roads moving as normally as possible.”

He added that in some areas, sudden detours had to be taken due to the protests, but coordination within the traffic division helped prevent major disruptions or chaos.

To maintain law and order, the DMP was active from early morning. Police presence was significantly increased at major roads, intersections, and near important establishments.

DMP Deputy Police Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman said, “Since the incident, police have been closely monitoring the situation. Our officers were deployed in the field from the beginning to ensure that unrest doesn’t spread.”

He added, “We’ve tried to handle the situation with maximum patience and professionalism. Ensuring the safety of lives and property is now our top priority.” The police have also called on the public to remain calm while security measures have been heightened across the capital.