Death toll in Bangladesh fighter jet crash rises to 27
DHAKA: At least 27 people, mostly children, were killed after a Bangladeshi fighter jet crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka, a government official said Tuesday (July 22), updating an earlier toll of at least 20 dead.
Most of the victims were schoolchildren who had just been let out of class when the Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College on Monday.
The crash, which is the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades, also left more than 170 people injured.
"So far, 27 people have died. Among them, 25 are children and one is a pilot," Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said.
"Seventy-eight people are being treated in different hospitals," Rahman added.
The Bangladesh military on Monday had said the pilot, flight lieutenant Towkir Islam, was on a routine training mission when the jet "reportedly encountered a mechanical failure".
"The exact cause remains under investigation," it said in a statement.
The pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas but, "despite his best efforts", crashed into the two-storey school building, the military added.
The interim government of Muhammad Yunus declared that Tuesday would be a day of national mourning.
Yunus expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the incident in a post on X.
"The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable," he said.
"This is a moment of profound pain for the nation." - AFP
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The Star
12 hours ago
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The Star
13 hours ago
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New Straits Times
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One of his career highlights was training south Vietnamese troops in counter-guerilla warfare at the request of the United States army to resist the communist advances during the Vietnam War. It was a mission shaped by the global urgency of the Cold War and the "Domino Theory" propounded by then president Dwight D. Eisenhower. Peter rose to the occasion with quiet resolve and duty. LIFE OF SACRIFICE In June 1980, after decades of service, Peter was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and appointed commanding officer of the 304 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army). His task was to secure the newly constructed East-West Highway linking Grik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan. Stationed on a hilltop overlooking Pulau Banding and its bridge, he led with vigilance and calm assurance. I had the honour of visiting him in April 1981 — his camp, maintained by my army engineers, stood as a testament to his enduring commitment to service. Though Peter retired on Aug 26, 1983, after 31 years of distinguished service, his influence never waned. Known affectionately as "Peter Boon" by his peers, he was admired for his humility, warmth and unwavering principles. As a senior major for 20 years, he was more than just a rank — he was a moral compass, a decision-maker and a true officer of the nation. I came to know him during my years at the Taiping Garrison, between 1978 and 1980, while overseeing the construction of 288 Class G married quarters. Peter was the administrator then — a commanding figure who led not with noise or display, but with quiet authority, warmth and unwavering fairness. His presence was steady. His kindness unspoken, but deeply felt. For his decades of distinguished service to king and country, he was awarded the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) — a fitting honour for a man who gave so much, and asked for so little. On March 1, 2020, Peter passed away peacefully at the age of 89 in Penang General Hospital, on what was poignantly the 87th anniversary of Army Day. He leaves behind five children — three sons and two daughters — and 12 grandchildren, a number that echoes the symbolic "12" of the Templer Superb-12, to which he proudly belonged. Of that founding cohort, only two remain today: Lt-Gen Datuk Abdullah Samsuddin, 95, and Lt-Col Khong Kim Kong, 94. Their numbers may dwindle, but their legacy stands — etched in barracks and battlefields, in classrooms and parade grounds, and in the quiet courage of men like Peter. As Malaysia marks Hari Pahlawan on July 31, we remember not just a soldier, but a pioneer. A patriot. An officer and a gentleman. We salute you, Sir.
