Despite assurances from Interim Government`s Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul, protests by students of Milestone School and College in Uttara continued on Tuesday over the deadly crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training jet into their campus.
At around 12:45 PM, following a closed-door meeting with student representatives, Asif Nazrul and Education Adviser C R Abrar emerged and addressed the students.
Nazrul told reporters, “The students` demands are absolutely justified. On behalf of the government, I assure you that every demand will be fulfilled. Please keep faith in us.” Still, the students refused to disperse and continued protesting.
The advisers later returned inside the college building as the demonstrations intensified in front of Building 5 of the campus.
Earlier in the day, around 10:30 AM, both advisers visited the college. As they exited, they were surrounded by hundreds of agitated students chanting slogans and demanding justice.
The advisers then entered a conference room on the ground floor of Building 5, where they held discussions with five to seven student representatives, accompanied by college teachers. Meanwhile, hundreds of students remained outside, continuing their protest.
Speaking to the students afterward, Asif Nazrul said the government would establish a control room to regularly update families with verified information on the dead and injured.
“We stand beside the children who lost their lives. We pray for them. The force that mistreated you—on behalf of the government—we apologize, and appropriate action will be taken,” he added.
The protesting students have issued six key demands:
Disclosure of the full and accurate names of the deceased;
A complete and error-free list of the injured;
Financial compensation for every affected family;
Replacement of outdated and risky training aircraft with modern, safer alternatives;
Reforms in the Air Force’s training procedures to ensure humane and safer practices;
A public apology for alleged physical assaults on teachers by military personnel.
Monday`s tragic incident occurred when a Bangladesh Air Force training fighter jet crashed into a building of the school. As of Tuesday morning, 27 students have been confirmed dead, according to Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser.
He also reported that 78 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment across four hospitals.
