Bangladesh probes deadly milestone jet crash

Dhaka

The Bangladesh government has set up a nine-member panel to investigate the tragic crash of a Bangladesh Air Force jet into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area on July 21. The crash claimed at least 34 lives, mostly students.

The commission will be led by former secretary AKM Zafar Ullah Khan. It must submit a report within four weeks, according to a Cabinet Division notice issued Sunday night.

The panel includes a retired air vice marshal, senior officials from multiple ministries, the Dhaka divisional commissioner, an urban planner, and a BUET professor. The team will investigate what caused the crash, assess the damage, and determine who was responsible. It will also study the legality and safety of nearby buildings, including Milestone School.

Key focus areas include how the aircraft operated, how close structures are to the flying zone, and what safety measures can prevent future tragedies. The team can travel anywhere in the country and question anyone as per the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1956.

Meanwhile, 21 doctors and nurses from Singapore, China, and India met with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. These medical teams are helping treat crash victims in Dhaka. Professor Yunus thanked them, saying, “These teams came with skills and hearts. Their support shows our shared humanity.”

The foreign experts are working closely with Bangladeshi doctors to provide trauma care. The government says the investigation aims to ensure safer skies and schools in the future.