A year after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College building in Dhaka's Uttara, compensation for the families of those killed and injured remains unresolved.
Parents say the government's proposed financial assistance is "inadequate", arguing that the medical expenses of many injured students have already run to several times the amount offered.
With no fresh initiative from the government, affected families say they continue to live with grief, uncertainty, and frustration.
What Happened That Day
Around 1:15 pm on July 21, 2025, an F-7 BGI fighter jet of the Air Force crashed onto the Milestone School and College campus in Diabari.
The aircraft burst into flames on impact, engulfing classrooms and leaving behind one of the country's worst school tragedies.
At least 36 people, most of them children, were killed, while more than 100 others were injured. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, also died. Official figures later put the death toll at 35 and the number of injured at 64.
Not A Single Family Accepted Payment
Retired Col Nurun Nabi, founder and adviser to Milestone School and College, said successive meetings were held with government officials, but parents remained dissatisfied with the proposed assistance.
He said many children had suffered severe burn injuries requiring repeated surgeries over many months, making treatment extremely expensive.
"The education ministry repeatedly asked us to receive the money, but since the parents refused, not a single family accepted it," he said.
Uncertainty Over Compensation Process
Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the families considered the proposed compensation too low and declined to accept it.
"Our formal discussions with them ended there, leaving the issue unresolved. I don't know whether the new government has taken any further steps," she told bdnews24.com.
She said the committee had also decided to provide medical support, but no final decision had been taken on which ministry would ultimately disburse the compensation.
No Fresh Initiative from New Government
Mohammad Nazmul Haque, president of the organisation representing families affected by the tragedy, said the government's priority should now be implementing the High Court petition or fully publishing the investigation commission's report, which also contains recommendations on compensation.
He said several children remained critically injured and continued to undergo repeated surgeries, making the proposed assistance grossly inadequate.
"There are children who still cannot stand or walk properly. How can Tk 500,000 support them for the rest of their lives?" he asked.
Nazmul added that, since the new government took office, no one had formally contacted the affected families despite repeated attempts to raise the issue with senior officials.
Calls to Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and State Minister Bobby Hajjaj for comment went unanswered.
