Protesting Milestone students clash with police, besiege law and education advisers
“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,” says a protesting student.
Students of Milestone College briefly clashed with police today (22 July) after law and education advisers were besieged on the college campus in Dhaka's Uttara area during an ongoing protest.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, Education Adviser CR Abrar, and Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam had arrived at the Diabari campus in the morning to speak with protesting students, who had been demonstrating since around 10am with a six-point list of demands following yesterday's tragic plane crash.
Soon after their arrival, the students surrounded the advisers, refusing to let them leave until all demands were fulfilled. The advisers later held discussions with student representatives inside the main administrative building.
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Around 6pm, the two advisers and CA's press secretary used the "backdoor exit" to come out from the school compound with the help of law enforcement agencies amid protests, said Md Mohidul Islam, deputy commissioner (Uttara zone) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Police were deployed to the campus to escort the advisers out, but some students reportedly threw bricks at the officers, injuring several of their own.
The police did not retaliate and instead took shelter inside the administration building. More than 100 officers were present at the scene.
The Chief Adviser's Press Wing later issued a statement saying the interim government supports all six demands raised by the students.
However, the protesters insisted they would not allow the advisers to leave the premises until the demands were formally addressed.
The demands include: the publication of accurate names and details of the deceased; a full list of the injured; a public apology for the alleged assault on teachers by army personnel; compensation from the Air Force to bereaved families; cancellation of outdated and risky aircraft; and reforms in Air Force training procedures to ensure safety and humane standards.
Yesterday (21 July), a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into the institute's primary school building shortly after takeoff, sparking a massive fire.
The plane had taken off from BAF Base Bir Uttom AK Khandker at 1:06pm and crashed due to a technical failure, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
So far, the deaths of 25 children and two adults, including the pilot and a Milestone teacher, have been officially confirmed. The deadly crash also left more than 170 people with various injuries.
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.
