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Milestone School and College in the capital's Uttara area reopened on Sunday, 12 days after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into a building of the institution.
No classes, however, were conducted. Instead, a memorial and prayer session was held around 11:00 am. Some students from Grades IX - XII along with their guardians visited the campus though usual hustle and bustle was not present.
A visit to the institution in the morning revealed that students and guardians began to arrive on the campus at 9:00 am. Before heading to the academic building, many students were seen pausing to look at the building damaged in the crash.
Pointing to that building, a tenth-grader said, "A younger boy from my neighbourhood used to attend classes here. His mother sent him with me as I'm older and could look after him. He's now in the burn unit. Being here constantly reminds me of him."
"I was scared to come to college. But I still came-my mother accompanied me. The faces of those little kids keep flashing in my mind. I feel like crying. I never imagined we would lose them like this. It's hard to believe how everything changed so suddenly," said a 12th-grade student.
Public Relations Officer of Milestone College Shah Bulbul said that they decided to reopen the campus on a limited scale so students can gradually return to normal life. "Students from Grades IX to XII will have the chance to interact with teachers and spend time with friends. This is an important step towards emotional healing."
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com