A new national award will be introduced in the name of late teacher Mehrin Chowdhury, who sacrificed her life to save students during the tragic Milestone School plane crash in Dhaka’s Uttara.
The decision was made on Thursday (7 August) at a meeting of the Advisory Council, chaired by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Secretariat.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Alam briefed the media following the meeting. He said that the Milestone tragedy was discussed again, particularly focusing on the heroic acts of two teachers and a school staff member who died in the incident. The government is considering appropriate honors for them.
Highlighting Mehrin Chowdhury’s bravery, the press secretary said:
“She displayed remarkable courage and selflessness while rescuing students during the crisis. She gave her life to save others. In her memory, the Ministry of Education will soon launch a national award named ‘Mehrin Chowdhury Award for Outstanding Services,’ which will be dedicated exclusively to teachers.”
The award will recognize teachers who demonstrate exceptional bravery, humanity, and dedication in their line of duty. Detailed guidelines and procedures for the award will be announced shortly.
On 21 July, a training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force lost control and crashed onto the premises of Milestone School and College in Uttara during regular class hours.
Teacher Mehrin Chowdhury risked her life to move students to safety, saving at least 20 children. She tragically lost her life in the process.
Her heroic actions quickly went viral on social media and were widely covered by news outlets, evoking national mourning and admiration.
Thursday`s meeting, which began at 10:30 AM at the Cabinet Room of the Secretariat, was the second formal session of the Advisory Council under the interim government. The sacrifice of Mehrin Chowdhury was a key topic of discussion.
Heightened security measures were in place at the Secretariat for the meeting. All entry gates except Gate 1 were temporarily closed, and visitor access was restricted during the session.
