Milestone Tragedy: Raisa Moni laid to rest in Alfadanga

Raisa Moni, the 9-year-old girl who tragically lost her life in the recent plane crash at Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara, was laid to rest on Friday morning. The burial took place at 9:15 AM at the Bajra Shamsul Ulum Madrasa and Orphanage graveyard in Gopalpur Union under Alfadanga Upazila.

The funeral was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Russel Iqbal, members of the Bangladesh Army, and hundreds of grieving villagers.

Raisa suffered severe burns in the fire caused by the crash, with doctors confirming that 80 percent of her body had been burned. Following the accident, she was initially reported missing.

Family members later identified Raisa’s body at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) based on facial features. DNA samples were subsequently collected and sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for verification. Authorities confirmed her identity through DNA matching, and her body was handed over to the family late Thursday night.

Her remains arrived in Bajra village of Gopalpur Union early Friday, where a wave of grief swept through the community. Relatives and villagers gathered at the family home to mourn her untimely death.

Raisa was the daughter of Shahabul Sheikh, 44, and Mim Akter of Bajra village. The family had been residing in a rented house in Nayanagar, Uttara. Shahabul Sheikh owns a garment accessories supply company. Raisa was the middle child among three siblings. Her older sister Cynthia, 14, is an eighth-grade student at the same school, while her younger brother Rafsan is four years old.

“Since the accident, we had been searching for her everywhere,” said Raisa’s uncle, Imdadul Sheikh. “We finally found her body at CMH around 1:30 PM on Tuesday. Her father recognized her despite the burns. We brought her home last night and buried her this morning.”

Speaking at the funeral, UNO Russel Iqbal expressed his condolences: “The tragic death of Raisa Moni has deeply shaken the community. We pray that the Almighty grants strength and patience to her grieving family. The upazila administration stands firmly with them during this difficult time.”