Milestone plane crash: Air Force pilot Towkir laid to rest in Rajshahi with state honours

Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) pilot who lost his life after the fighter jet he was flying crashed in the Diabari campus of Milestone College in Dhaka yesterday (21 July), was laid to rest in his hometown Rajshahi with state honours.

According to his grandfather Azizur Rahman, Towkir's first namaz-e-janaza was held at the Dhaka Cantonment between 11am and 12pm today (22 July). From there, his body was transported to Rajshahi.

A helicopter, carrying Towkir's body and his family members, landed in Rajshahi Cantonment at around 2:55pm. Then his remains were taken to his family home.

After 3:30pm, Towkir's body was taken to the Muktijuddho Smriti Stadium, where a second janaza was held around 4:30pm.

Following the janaza, Towkir was buried at the Sapura graveyard in the city at 5pm with state honours.

Members of the Bangladesh Air Force, army, Rapid Action Battalion, district administration, law enforcement, and local political leaders were present at the burial.

Earlier, a sombre atmosphere engulfed the city of Rajshahi as news of the young pilot's death spread. From early morning, relatives and well-wishers have been gathering at the family's residence to offer condolences.

At the janaza, Monirul Islam, vice principal of Pabna Cadet College, where Towkir once studied, told The Business Standard, "Towkir was an exceptionally disciplined and hardworking student. It's truly heartbreaking to lose such a promising young man so early.

"He was a priceless asset to both the nation and society."

Towkir's grandfather Azizur, overcome with emotion, said, "This grief is impossible to forget. We also pray for the souls of others who lost their lives in the crash."

The district administration, along with various social and cultural organisations, has organised special prayers for him.

Towkir took off from BAF Base Bir Uttom AK Khandker at Dhaka's Kurmitola on the fighter aircraft for his final training flight at 1:06pm yesterday and crashed due to a technical failure soon after, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate.

The death toll from yesterday's deadly crash at Milestone College's Diabari campus rose to 31, mostly children, this morning.

However, students who witnessed the incident and helped first responders have claimed that the death toll is much higher than what has been officially announced.

Pilot Towkir had ejected from the aircraft at the last seconds before the plane crashed. He later died from injuries at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH).