Lamentation over Milestone tragedy and next course of action

The entire nation is shocked and horrified by the tragic plane crash at Milestone School and College, raising concerns about how safe and secure their children are at schools and colleges. Judging by the scale and extent of the accident, it is needless to say that no, they are not safe at all—this incident is living proof of that. Had the incident occurred just half an hour later, many children and teenagers might have survived; but cruel fate struck just moments before they would have left for home, climbing onto the laps of their parents or guardians, chatting away. It happened precisely when the teachers, as per their daily routine, were lining them up and preparing them to return home in an orderly manner—a most unfortunate event in recent memory. In today’s newspaper, I saw a gentleman standing in a daze holding a photograph—he had found his child, but his wife who came to pick up the child was missing.

In this age of the internet and information technology, wherever we were—at our workplaces, at home, or on the road—we witnessed the entire incident unfold in stunned disbelief. I saw a child, possibly in class three or four, whose whole body had been burned. A nearly burnt bag could be seen in hand, hair was scorched, the shirt and trousers were burned and stuck to the body, the face was unrecognisable. The child was still standing, perhaps in hope of some help. I do not know where they took the child afterwards, perhaps they were searching for someone who could offer treatment. I cannot say whether the child survived, but this scene was published in the newspapers and whoever saw it was horrified. Such a horrific sight is unbearable.

I see this issue from two perspectives. In the photo, some people seemed frantically busy taking pictures, competing to post them on YouTube as quickly as possible. Numerous curious people with mobile phones were seen busy recording videos of the incident. It became difficult to push people aside, thereby somewhat hindering the quick transport of victims to the hospital. The boy mentioned earlier needed treatment the most, but whether he received it or when, I do not know.

Another thing that appeared from afar was that a large team from the army became preoccupied with removing the wreckage of the aircraft. Had everyone worked together even more swiftly to take the children to hospital, perhaps some more lives could have been saved.

However, as in every accident, some volunteers and local residents came forward to help. I saw numerous students and parents of different ages standing with placards, waiting to donate blood—it truly moved me. Rickshaw pullers, labourers, van drivers, even bus drivers stepped forward to help—seeing this brought tears to my eyes. These are the real human beings.

Relatives of the children could not find them; they were rushing from one hospital to another in search of their dearly beloved children. Their cries of anguish created a heart-wrenching scene. Such a sight is both unforgettable and unbearable. Now the question is, could this situation have been avoided? According to experts, how logical was it to fly a training fighter jet over a densely populated urban area, using a busy commercial runway during a time when every resident is engaged in their daily work? Had this training jet chosen a time when fewer people are outdoors—say, early dawn or very early morning—the casualties could have been significantly lower. Although perhaps this does not fall within the air force’s regulations.

It was also learned that the training fighter jet was quite old. There have been many such past incidents where pilots lost their lives because of using outdated aircraft. This incident has raised many questions. How many such fighter jets are currently in service in the Bangladesh Air Force? Is Bangladesh preparing to purchase more? We have come to know that due to reciprocal tariffs, Bangladesh is trying to procure Boeing aircraft. This should now be approached with caution, and alternative policies need to be considered.

I saw a small child’s ID card, numerous schoolbags, torn notebooks, water bottles, shoes—all reminding us that those who used these daily will never use them again. One cannot imagine the state of mind of the parents. Some did not even get to see the bodies of their children. Some of the bodies were so badly burned that they were charred lumps—unrecognisable.

Why did such a horrific situation occur? And why was the education secretary withdrawn—I do not understand. Students have issued a six-point demand including the resignation of the education adviser. The HSC examination has been declared postponed. There are more demands from students. What reasons could lie behind all these? How could there be an air force base using such aircraft so close to such a densely populated area? And why was this school, which has been operating for 23 years, established so close to the air force base? Which came first? The school had good SSC results this year, which everyone celebrated. Parents were enthusiastic to enrol their children in this school.

With about six thousand students and numerous quality teachers, this institution was running its educational activities with a good reputation. After this incident, surely parents will no longer feel confident sending their children here. Do educational institutions in our country construct their infrastructure following the proper guidelines? After a few days of investigation, we may discover many problems even within these institutions.

We are deeply saddened and distressed by the premature deaths and injuries of innocent students, teachers, and the flight lieutenant. This tragic event has left a deep scar in our hearts. We can only offer condolences to the parents, but that alone is not enough.

Whatever the structural flaws, regulatory negligence, or other weaknesses may be, there needs to be a complete and transparent investigation into the context in which this tragic incident occurred. Furthermore, this incident underscores the urgent necessity of formulating and enforcing stricter rules and standards regarding safety measures, structural risk assessments, and evaluations, particularly in densely populated and industrial areas such as the capital. This tragedy serves as a clear warning about the need for systematic reform and accountability. We hope that an independent investigative commission will be formed to identify the root causes of this incident and make the findings public.

In this sorrowful and difficult time, we express our deepest gratitude to those fearless rescuers, volunteers, and brave doctors who immediately took charge and stood by the victims. We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families, individuals, and all affected by this tragedy, and we pray for the peace of the departed souls. Alongside this, we urge everyone concerned to work together to ensure that such an incident is never repeated.

Ferdous Ara Begum: Economist and CEO, Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD)