Dhaka, Bangladesh – July 28: The Bangladesh government has established a nine-member commission to investigate the tragic crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training jet that struck Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area on July 21, killing at least 34 people, most of them schoolchildren.
The commission, chaired by former secretary AKM Zafar Ullah Khan, has been instructed to submit its findings within four weeks, according to a gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday night, The Daily Star reported.
The panel includes a retired Air Vice Marshal, three additional secretaries, an urban planner, the Dhaka divisional commissioner, and a professor from BUET’s mechanical engineering department.
Scope of the Investigation
The commission’s mandate is wide-ranging. It will investigate:
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Causes of the crash and potential mechanical, procedural, or regulatory failures
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Extent of damage to Milestone School and surrounding structures
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Casualties and injuries, especially among students and faculty
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Responsibility and accountability for the incident
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Legality and safety of buildings located within the aircraft flying zone
The panel will also examine whether Milestone School and nearby structures were built in accordance with urban and aviation regulations. It will review whether the proximity of buildings to the air force’s training routes contributed to the severity of the accident.
Recommendations for the Future
The commission has been tasked with suggesting preventive measures, including:
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Guidelines for the safe operation of training aircraft in populated areas
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Zoning rules for building near airbases or flying zones
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Protocols for emergency response and coordination during aviation-related disasters
The inquiry is being conducted under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1956, giving the panel authority to question any person and visit any location relevant to the probe. The Dhaka divisional commissioner’s office will assist the commission administratively.
International Medical Support on the Ground
In parallel, international efforts to aid victims continue. A team of 21 medical professionals from Singapore, China, and India arrived in Dhaka and met Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, at the State Guest House Jamuna.
The international doctors and nurses are working with Bangladeshi medical teams to treat the injured, many of whom are children suffering from trauma and burn injuries.
“These teams have come not just with their skills, but with their hearts,” said Professor Yunus. “Their presence reaffirms our shared humanity and the value of global partnerships in times of tragedy.”
Background: July 21 Disaster
On July 21, a Bangladesh Air Force jet lost control during a routine training sortie and crashed into the main academic block of Milestone School and College during school hours. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with the building engulfed in flames and injured children being carried out by locals and first responders.
This is one of the worst peacetime aviation disasters in Bangladesh’s history, sparking grief and outrage across the nation.