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Bangladesh mourns 27 dead in school jet crash tragedy

Bangladesh mourns 27 dead in school jet crash tragedy

The Sun22-07-2025
DHAKA: Families and teachers gathered in grief at a Bangladeshi school where a fighter jet crashed, killing 25 children and two others in the country's deadliest aviation disaster in years. The Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft struck Milestone School and College on Monday, just as pupils were leaving class.
'So far, 27 people have died. Among them, 25 are children and one is a pilot,' said Sayedur Rahman from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The earlier toll of 20 was revised as more victims were identified. 'Seventy-eight people are being treated in different hospitals,' Rahman added.
The military confirmed over 170 injuries and is investigating the cause. The school, usually filled with noise, stood silent on Tuesday with classes suspended. 'Along with the children, the school has lost its life,' said teacher Shahadat Hossain, whose son narrowly escaped.
'There are two swings in front of the affected building. During lunch breaks and after school, children play there. Even yesterday, around the time the plane crashed, students were on those swings,' Hossain told AFP.
Among the 7,000 enrolled students was Abul Bashar's sixth-grade son, who lost his best friend. 'He came out just two or three minutes before the accident occurred,' Bashar said. 'He couldn't sleep through the night and forced me to bring him to school this morning.'
Authorities collected scattered belongings—bags, shoes, and ID cards—from the site. Senior police officer Pahn Chakma said armed forces were still securing the area before evidence collection begins. Air Force personnel removed jet wreckage overnight but continue searching for clues.
School staff held prayers on campus Monday night as the nation reeled. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus declared a day of mourning, calling the loss 'irreparable.' The military stated the pilot, flight lieutenant Towkir Islam, faced mechanical failure during training and attempted to steer clear of populated areas before crashing. - AFP
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One man's 30 years of toil to save orphaned chimps
One man's 30 years of toil to save orphaned chimps

The Sun

time14 hours ago

  • The Sun

One man's 30 years of toil to save orphaned chimps

TACUGAMA, SIERRA LEONE: Bala Amarasekaran has never felt like running his world-renowned sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees in Sierra Leone was truly work, having come to his calling only after several unexpected twists of fate. Standing in his Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary not far from the capital Freetown, he tenderly patted a young ape's nose and stroked its cheek, whispering a few words of encouragement into its ear. A nearby adolescent, visibly jealous, grabbed at Amarasekaran's hand, pandering for his attention with an intense gaze. The chimps are not just Amarasekaran's life and work, but his family too. Since 1995 he has fought for them, nurtured them and preserved the oasis he created for them against an onslaught of dangers. 'I never feel I come to work because the chimps are a part of my life', Amarasekaran told AFP. 'It's my passion, I come to see my family'. In the face of armed rebel attacks during the country's civil war, mass deforestation and even Ebola, Amarasekaran has ensured the chimps' safety. In the midst of it all, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary has become the country's leading ecotourism destination and a model for environmental conservation in west Africa. The little apes in the enclosure visited by Amarasekaran had only recently arrived following traumatic life experiences. Members of the critically endangered Western chimpanzee subspecies, the orphans are often malnourished or otherwise wounded by bullets or machetes, sometimes after being sold by poachers and kept as pets. At the sanctuary, located inside the country's Western Area Peninsula National Park, they will first be rehabilitated then freed into its dozens of hectares of protected tropical rainforest, already home to 123 primates. All by 'accident' Amarasekaran, a 64-year-old accountant by training, was by no means destined for a life protecting young apes. 'Well it all happened by accident,' Amarasekaran said, green eyes twinkling. Amarasekaran first arrived in Sierra Leone at age 17 from Sri Lanka. In 1988, while travelling in the countryside with his wife, Sharmila, the newlyweds were shocked to discover a baby chimpanzee tied to a village tree, malnourished and dehydrated. 'We took the chimp, otherwise he would have died,' Amarasekaran said, and once home 'we actually looked after him like a child'. Bruno, as he was named, would live with Amarasekaran for almost seven years until the sanctuary was built. The couple was astounded by the ape's emotions, and discovered that chimps had 'the same kind of demands in terms of affection' as humans, Amarasekaran said. The interspecies family grew as the Amarasekarans took in up to seven chimpanzees at a time. Despite all the love, there could be 'a lot of destruction', Amarasekaran said. Sometimes the chimps would escape from the house, causing damage to neighbours' properties or stealing bread from passersby. 'I was public enemy number one,' Amarasekaran said with a laugh, often returning home to find bills for repairs from neighbours. A refuge is born After a decisive meeting with renowned primatologist Jane Goodall in 1993, Amarasekaran secured funding from the European Union and a green light from the Sierra Leone government. At the time, Amarasekaran thought he would commit one to two years to the project and then hand over the sanctuary. But that never happened. 'I didn't realise the chimps would become a very important part of my life,' Amarasekaran said, his voice breaking with emotion. Thanks to his awareness campaign, the government declared the chimpanzee the 'national animal of Sierra Leone' in 2019. Over the years the sanctuary has endured many challenges. During the country's civil war, which lasted from 1991 to 2002, the sanctuary was attacked twice by rebels and completely looted. Amarasekaran had to negotiate with the fighters to spare his staff and chimps' lives. Later, the Ebola epidemic posed an existential threat to humans and chimps alike. The centre closed for a year and caregivers moved into the facility. The same system was also put in place for several months during Covid-19. Closed sanctuary Faced with an alarming increase in deforestation and illegal encroachment on the national park where the refuge is located, Amarasekaran is taking drastic measures. Since late May he has kept the sanctuary closed in a protest meant to shock the government into action. So far however, the government has not responded, and the financial consequences for the sanctuary, which depends on tourism and donations, are weighing heavily. As a keeper it is easy to develop a special bond with a few favourite chimps, just like among humans, Amarasekaran said. He had been particularly close with Bruno, Julie and Philipp, now deceased. These days, he likes to visit with Mac, Mortes and Abu: 'These are my friends', he said while smiling. As AFP accompanied Amarasekaran around the sanctuary, a roar of excitement arose from an enclosure where some of the adults were gathered. The adoring screeches seemed proof that the unique love Amarasekaran professed for his chimps goes both ways. - AFP

‘Absolute madness': Thailand's pet lion problem
‘Absolute madness': Thailand's pet lion problem

The Sun

time20 hours ago

  • The Sun

‘Absolute madness': Thailand's pet lion problem

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: Behind a car repair business on a nondescript Thai street are the cherished pets of a rising TikTok animal influencer: two lions and a 200-kilogram lion-tiger hybrid called 'Big George.' Lion ownership is legal in Thailand, and Tharnuwarht Plengkemratch is an enthusiastic advocate, posting updates on his feline companions to nearly three million followers. 'They're playful and affectionate, just like dogs or cats,' he told AFP from inside their cage complex at his home in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Thailand's captive lion population has exploded in recent years, with nearly 500 registered in zoos, breeding farms, petting cafes and homes. Experts warn the trend endangers animals and humans, stretches authorities and likely fuels illicit trade domestically and abroad. 'It's absolute madness,' said Tom Taylor, chief operating officer of conservation group Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. 'It's terrifying to imagine, if the laws aren't changed, what the situation is going to be in 10 years.' The boom is fuelled by social media, where owners like Tharnuwarht post light-hearted content and glamour shots with lions. 'I wanted to show people... that lions can actually bond well with humans,' he said, insisting he plays regularly with his pets. He entered Big George's enclosure tentatively though, spending just a few minutes being batted by the tawny striped liger's hefty paws before retreating behind a fence. Since 2022, Thai law has required owners to register and microchip lions, and inform authorities before moving them. But there are no breeding caps, few enclosure or welfare requirements, and no controls on liger or tigon hybrids. Births of protected native species like tigers must be reported within 24 hours. Lion owners have 60 days. 'That is a huge window,' said Taylor. 'What could be done with a litter of cubs in those 60 days? Anything.' Illicit trade Taylor and his colleagues have tracked the rise in lion ownership with on-site visits and by trawling social media. They recorded around 130 in 2018, and nearly 450 by 2024. But nearly 350 more lions they encountered were 'lost to follow-up' after their whereabouts could not be confirmed for a year. That could indicate unreported deaths, an animal removed from display or 'worst-case scenarios', said Taylor. 'We have interviewed traders (in the region) who have given us prices for live and dead lions and have told us they can take them over the border.' As a vulnerable species, lions and their parts can only be sold internationally with so-called CITES permits. But there is circumstantial evidence of illicit trade, several experts told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid angering authorities. Media reports and social media have documented lions, including cubs, in Cambodia multiple times in recent years, though CITES shows no registered imports since 2003. There is also growing evidence that captive lion numbers in Laos exceed CITES import licences. In Thailand, meanwhile, imports of lion parts like bones, skins and teeth have dropped in recent years, though demand remains, raising questions about how parts are now being sourced. Thai trader Pathamawadee Janpithak started in the crocodile business, but pivoted to lions as prices for the reptiles declined. 'It gradually became a full-fledged business that I couldn't step away from,' the gregarious 32-year-old told AFP in front of a row of caged cubs. She sells one-month-olds for around 500,000 baht ($15,500), down from a peak of 800,000 baht as breeding operations like hers increase supply. Captive lions are generally fed around two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of chicken carcasses a day, and can produce litters of two to six cubs, once or twice a year. Pathamawadee's three facilities house around 80 lions, from a stately full-maned nine-year-old to a sickly pair of eight-day-olds being bottle-fed around the clock. They are white because of a genetic mutation, and the smaller pool of white lions means inbreeding and sickness are common. Sometimes wrongly considered a 'threatened' subspecies, they are popular in Thailand, but a month-old white cub being reared alongside the newborns has been sick almost since birth. It has attracted no buyers so far and will be unbreedable, Pathamawadee said. She lamented the increasing difficulty of finding buyers willing to comply with ownership rules. 'In the past, people could just put down money and walk away with a lion... Everything has become more complicated.' Legal review Pathamawadee sells around half of the 90 cubs she breeds each year, often to other breeders, who are increasingly opening 'lion cafes' where customers pose with and pet young lions. Outside Chiang Mai, a handler roused a cub from a nap to play with a group of squealing Chinese tourists. Staff let AFP film the interaction, but like all lion cafes contacted, declined interviews. Pathamawadee no longer sells to cafes, which tend to offload cubs within weeks as they grow. She said several were returned to her traumatised and no longer suitable for breeding. The growing lion population is a problem for Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), admitted wildlife protection director Sadudee Punpugdee. 'But private ownership has existed for a long time... so we're taking a gradual approach,' he told AFP. That includes limiting lion imports so breeders are forced to rely on the domestic population. 'With inbreeding on the rise, the quality of the lions is also declining and we believe that demand will decrease as a result,' Sadudee said. Already stretched authorities face difficult choices on enforcing regulations, as confiscated animals become their responsibility, said Penthai Siriwat, illegal wildlife trade specialist at WWF Thailand. 'There is a great deal of deliberation before intervening... considering the substantial costs,' she told AFP. Owners like Tharnuwarht often evoke conservation to justify their pets, but Thailand's captive lions will never live in the wild. Two-year-olds Khanom and Khanun live in a DNP sanctuary after being confiscated from a cafe and private owner over improper paperwork. They could survive another decade or more, and require specialised keepers, food and care. Sanctuary chief vet Natanon Panpeth treads carefully while discussing the lion trade, warning only that the 'well-being of the animals should always come first'. Big cat ownership has been banned in the United States and United Arab Emirates in recent years, and Thailand's wildlife rules are soon up for review. Sadudee is hopeful some provisions may be tightened, though a ban is unlikely for now. He has his own advice for would-be owners: 'Wild animals belong in the wild. There are plenty of other animals we can keep as pets.' - AFP

'How am I still alive?' - Lt Gen Johnny Lim's life on the frontlines
'How am I still alive?' - Lt Gen Johnny Lim's life on the frontlines

Sinar Daily

time20 hours ago

  • Sinar Daily

'How am I still alive?' - Lt Gen Johnny Lim's life on the frontlines

SHAH ALAM – Life in the army is no easy task. The military is a tough and demanding journey, not one centred on bullying, as some might assume, but rather built on discipline, resilience and hardship. The training is intense, the physical exercises are dangerous, and being away from home and loved ones for long periods takes an emotional toll. It's a path that requires both mental and physical strength. These were the words shared by National Resilience College (NRC) Commandant Lieutenant General Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng during an exclusive interview with Sinar Daily back in May this year, just weeks before he made national headlines for becoming the first Chinese officer to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). Following his successful career in the service, Lim kept it unfiltered stating that military life was not just challenging but can also be life-threatening. He said he often wonders how he's still alive today but believes it was the prayers of his family especially his mother and father, and all those who care for him, that had protected him throughout his journey till today. 'I remember it was just about a month in when we went for a very tough battalion exercise, followed by our first military operation, which, to this day, remains one of the most dangerous. 'We went to Gubet, and unfortunately, we lost two men there due to booby traps,' he said during an interview at the National Resilience College in Putrajaya recently. He highlighted that Gubet, located near the border of Malaysia-Thailand, served as a forward operating base (FOB). It was a strategic point used for military insertions along the border, with designated markers such as Marker Tango and Marker Fox to guide helicopter landings. Lim pointed out that during those operations, helicopters could only land at certain cleared zones along the border. Before insertion into those areas, troops would assemble at the FOB in Gubet, situated near the Tasik Pedu Dam in Kedah. This location functioned as a staging area where helicopters would pick up units for deployment into operational zones. He stressed that the experience was both physically and mentally demanding. Being away from home was difficult, and once deployed by helicopter, constant movement was required to avoid detection. "The operational areas were heavily laden with booby traps, so many that casualties were frequent, despite the presence of specialised clearing teams," he said. He emphasised that the threat of traps was a constant concern, with the terrain and unpredictability making every mission potentially deadly. 'I vividly recall one occasion when there was a booby trap, I actually saw the wires while we were getting dressed. It didn't explode, but I was absolutely shocked,' he added. Thankfully, he was unharmed. He also noted that, despite never being directly involved in a firefight with communist insurgents, he still played an active role in operations. As a Unit Commander (UC), he operated in small groups, often participating in cut-off missions and tracking efforts. He believed the enemy was often nearby but because they moved in small units, direct confrontation was rare. 'I like to believe that the prayers of your mother, father, and all that protected you,' he said. He also recounted an incident that occurred roughly 20 years later, at the same location in Gubet. Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng when interviewed at the National Resilience College at Putrajaya recently. While commanding an operation, Lim witnessed a helicopter take off, veer sideways, and make an emergency landing. Just three weeks later, that same helicopter crashed, and the pilot lost his life. He reflected on the experience, often asking himself why he survived while others did not, concluding that perhaps it simply wasn't his time. Speaking about the communist insurgency, he contrasted the past era with the present, emphasising that during those days, they were truly fighting an organised enemy. He said when they discovered communist camps deep in the jungle, it was clear the insurgents had adapted to long-term survival. The camps were well-established, complete with natural resources like streams for bathing, and the fighters were seasoned and resilient, though their presence was usually confined to the fringe areas. He stated that this was the reason for the existence of 'white' and 'black' areas during the conflict period. Under the Briggs Plan, these designations helped isolate communist insurgents from their supporters and sympathisers. He also recalled attending a course while serving in the UC platoon, conducted by military intelligence. Some of the instructors were former communist insurgents who had surrendered. He said they shared survival techniques, deception tactics and jungle warfare strategies, skills essential for operating in dense terrain. He described the jungle some 'neutral' being, and surviving in it required both stealth and adaptability, as well as the ability to track enemy movement. He noted that follow-up action was often required after contact with the enemy. Even tracking dogs could lose the scent if insurgents crossed rivers or split up. Tactics such as dispersal, using dead letterboxes, and misleading trails were commonly employed. These techniques were unfamiliar not only to civilians but also to newer generations of soldiers, who had never encountered such unconventional warfare. 'When I had a family, I found it quite tough being away from my loved ones for two months, sometimes even longer, because our operations could be extended due to the challenging, unsustainable conditions. We couldn't always move around easily as the jungle was extremely dense, though rich in resources. 'It's truly beautiful inside the jungle. But you operate based on what you know, and thankfully, the sergeants and those in the platoon who had been there longer guided me and taught me about the rest,' he said.

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