Govt deems Milestone students' six demands justified following deadly plane crash

The interim government has expressed support for all six demands made by Milestone College students following the tragic plane crash at the institute's Diabari campus, which killed 27 people so far, mostly children.

Earlier today (22 July), Education Adviser CR Abrar, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, and the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam went to the college campus in Uttara, according to a statement issued by the Chief Adviser's Press Wing.

There, they held discussions with representatives of the students, who started the protest around 10am.

The students' demands are: publication of the correct names and information of the deceased; a complete list of the injured; an unconditional public apology for alleged assault on teachers by army personnel; compensation from the Air Force for each bereaved family; cancellation of old, risky aircraft; and reforms to Air Force training methods to ensure greater safety and humanity.

Following the meeting with students, Asif Nazrul addressed the media, stating, "An information centre has been set up at Milestone College to provide updated details about those killed, injured, or missing in the incident.

"This centre is regularly updating data and facilitating support for the affected families."

He further added that compensation, rehabilitation, and trauma management support are being arranged for the victims' families.

In response to allegations that some students were physically assaulted by members of the Bangladesh Army while they were controlling crowds, the government expressed regret. Nazrul stated that the army authorities would be officially notified to take appropriate action over the incident.

Additionally, instructions will be given to the Bangladesh Air Force to avoid operating training flights over densely populated areas, he said.

Education Adviser CR Abrar informed students that the revised date for the postponed HSC and equivalent examinations scheduled for 24 July will be announced after the regular exams conclude.

Today's protest began in the morning with six demands in a written declaration titled "Peaceful Student Movement".

Students of Milestone College besieged the law and education advisers after the duo arrived at the Diabari campus amid an ongoing protest, which started this morning (22 July), demanding justice and accountability in the wake of the tragic plane crash that killed 27 people, most of them children.

With a six-point charter of demands, the protest began around 10am at the Gol Chattar area in front of the college's Diabari campus in Dhaka's Uttara. More than 100 students have gathered, holding placards and chanting slogans.

Around 11am, Education Adviser CR Abrar and Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul, reportedly accompanied by the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, arrived on the campus.

Their arrival sparked anger among the protesters, who surrounded them and began chanting "Bhua, Bhua" (fake, fake).

The two advisers and accompanying government officials eventually took shelter inside the college's main administrative building, where a few student representatives joined them for a meeting that began around 11:15am.

"The advisers were supposed to make a clear statement, including the actual number of the deceased, but they did not. We also hoped they would address the mistreatment of students and teachers by army personnel during the rescue operation, but they did not. That is why we surrounded them," one protesting student told The Business Standard, asking not to be named.