Bangladesh Protests Erupt: Students Demand Justice After Jet Crash Kills 31
When a military jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka on July 22, 2025, killing 31 people—including 25 children—and injuring over 170 others, Bangladesh was rocked by grief and indignation. Massive student protests throughout the capital were triggered by the tragedy, which was covered by Reuters and Al Jazeera. The protesters demanded accountability, compensation for the families of the victims, and an end to training flights over populated areas. What caused this tragic event, and will the interim government grant the demonstrators’ demands for justice as the country grieves?
On July 21, 2025, at 1:06 p.m., the Chinese-built F-7 BGI aircraft was on a routine training mission when it experienced a mechanical failure shortly after takeoff from A.K. Khandaker air base. Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, the pilot, tried to steer the plane away from crowded areas, but it crashed into the school and burned it down. Teacher Maherin Chowdhury, who valiantly rescued more than 20 pupils before passing away from burns, was one of the victims. According to CNN and The Washington Post, 78 people were hospitalized in the crash, which was the deadliest air disaster in Dhaka’s recent history. Many of them had critical burns.
Parts of Dhaka, which is still recovering from the uprising that overthrew the prime minister last year, were shut down on July 22 when hundreds of students took to the streets. Chanting “Why did our brothers die?” and calling for precise victim lists, restitution, and the decommissioning of “outdated” aircraft, protesters overran the Bangladesh Secretariat. According to Reuters, police used batons and tear gas during the ensuing clashes, injuring dozens. The public became enraged after students accused security forces of mistreating teachers and stifling information.
Declaring a national day of mourning, interim leader Muhammad Yunus promised an open investigation and prohibited training flights over cities. Protesters are still dubious, though, pointing to previous military mishaps, such as the 2008 F-7 incident, and raising concerns about the security of Bangladesh’s aging fleet. Despite tense relations, India is providing medical assistance as the government works with hospitals to treat survivors, according to ABC News. However, families must endure excruciating wait times for DNA identification because some bodies are so severely burned.
In a country dealing with political instability, this tragedy has rekindled discussions about military safety procedures and accountability. Will the public’s ire intensify or can Yunus’s government bring about justice and avert more tragedies? The world watches a distraught Bangladesh demand answers as students promise to keep protesting.
