At Least 19 Killed As Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crashes Into College Building
By Shakir Husain
NEW DELHI, July 21 (Bernama) -- At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 injured after a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) training aircraft crashed into a college building in Dhaka on Monday.
The F-7 jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka's Uttara area around 1.15 pm.
bootstrap slideshow
The number of injured in the crash was more than 160, most of them students, according to local media reports.
"The aircraft had departed from the Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Dhaka at 1:06pm as part of a routine training exercise. Shortly after take-off, the jet encountered a mechanical failure, the exact nature of which will be determined through a formal investigation," the military said in a statement.
"This is a moment of profound grief for the nation," Bangladesh interim government chief Muhammad Yunus said.
The government has announced a day of mourning on Tuesday.
The dead included many children.
Personnel from the Bangladesh Army, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police were on the site working to retrieve the bodies and extinguish the fire.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Express
3 hours ago
- Daily Express
Safe Internet campaign enhances digital literacy among rural Sabah students
Published on: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Fahmi speaks at the event. - fotoBERNAMA PAPAR: A Safe Internet Campaign organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) at SMK St Mary in Limbahau is helping to boost digital literacy and cyber safety awareness among rural students in Sabah. The initiative, under the Ministry of Communications, goes beyond improving internet access by promoting safe, ethical and responsible online behaviour, particularly among young people. Launched by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, the programme included online safety awareness sessions, interactive activities and teacher training designed to instil strong values and resilience in students facing online threats. Form Three student Faradira Horatio, appointed as the school's K-Dat Captain Icon for the campaign, said such programmes should be expanded to other rural areas to ensure all students benefit from cybersecurity education. 'It teaches us to use the internet and social media responsibly, something many students tend to overlook,' she said, adding that she plans to actively raise awareness among her peers about cyberbullying and promote safe, responsible online behaviour. Form Four student Lee Yuh Hui said the campaign provided new insights on digital footprints and the risks of irresponsible internet use. 'Many students still lack awareness about safe digital practices. This campaign helps fill that gap,' she added. Form Five student Steve Noel said the initiative helped students distinguish between credible and false information online. In a statement, MCMC said the campaign reflects a whole-of-nation approach under the Malaysia Madani framework, involving collaboration between schools, government agencies, parents and local authorities to deliver digital safety messages effectively. 'The internet is more than a communication tool, it's a platform to shape values, spread knowledge, and foster unity. Let's ensure this space remains safe, ethical, and constructive for future generations,' the statement said. Fahmi also joined students in an interactive session, advising them to remain vigilant about cyber threats. Also present were Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and MCMC Chief of State Affairs Bukhari Yahya. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Teacher dies saving students from inferno in Bangladesh jet crash
DHAKA (Reuters) -When a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into her school and erupted in a fireball on Monday, Maherin Chowdhury rushed to save some of the hundreds of students and teachers facing mortal danger, placing their safety before her own. The 46-year-old English teacher went back again and again into a burning classroom to rescue her students, even as her own clothes were engulfed in flames, her brother, Munaf Mojib Chowdhury, told Reuters by telephone. Maherin died on Monday after suffering near total burns on her body. She is survived by her husband and two teenaged sons. "When her husband called her, pleading with her to leave the scene and think of her children, she refused, saying 'they are also my children, they are burning. How can I leave them?'" Chowdhury said. At least 29 people, most of them children, were killed when the F-7 BGI crashed into the school, trapping them in fire and debris. The military said the aircraft had suffered mechanical failure. "I don't know exactly how many she saved, but it may have been at least 20. She pulled them out with her own hands," he said, adding that he found out about his sister's act of bravery when he visited the hospital and met students she had rescued. The jet had taken off from a nearby air base on a routine training mission, the military said. After experiencing mechanical failure the pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from populated areas, but it crashed into the campus. The pilot was among those killed. "When the plane crashed and fire broke out, everyone was running to save their lives, she ran to save others," Khadija Akter, the headmistress of the school's primary section, told Reuters on phone about Maherin. She was buried on Tuesday in her home district of Nilphamari, in northern Bangladesh. (Reporting by Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Editing by William Maclean)

Barnama
7 hours ago
- Barnama
M'sia, Singapore Join Forces In Chemical Spill Response Drill At Linkedua
ISKANDAR PUTERI, July 23 (Bernama) -- Regional collaboration between Malaysia and Singapore to strengthen chemical spill preparedness took centre stage today at the 14th emergency chemical spill simulation exercise held at the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua). The event, organised through the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE), brought together about 15 agencies from both countries to test and improve inter-agency communication and mobilisation in the event of a hazardous spill. Department of Environment (DOE) director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the simulation, hosted by Singapore this year, played a vital role in enhancing response capacity and coordination between the two nations. "This training is very important as it strengthens communication between the two countries and our agencies in mobilising all assets and human resources to address chemical spills. "This time, Singapore is the host, and God willing, in two years' time Malaysia will be the host," he said when met after the exercise at Linkedua here today, which was also attended by Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) chief executive officer, Wong Kang Jet. Wan Abdul Latiff also revealed that an estimated 150,000 tonnes of hazardous chemicals are transported across the Malaysia-Singapore border via Linkedua each year. However, he noted that no crashes involving chemical spills had been reported at the location so far. "Therefore, detailed preparations through simulation exercises are continuously conducted. This is to prevent chemical spill incidents and ensure swift action can be taken," he said at a press conference today. -- BERNAMA