Milestone tragedy: Urban planners urge relocation of institutions from airport approach zones

Urban planners have called for the urgent relocation of public institutions, including schools, hospitals, from the approach zones of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), following the tragic plane crash at Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara that claimed at least 33 lives.

At a press conference held today (24 July) at the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) headquarters in Banglamotor, experts said the Milestone School is situated in a highly unsafe location — directly within the airport's inner flying approach zone, reads a press release.

This zone, they argue, should be off-limits to high-density public facilities due to its vulnerability to aviation accidents and long-term health hazards like noise and carbon emissions.

The BIP's rapid assessment report, titled "Milestone School Plane Crash: State's Responsibility in Public Safety and Development Control", emphasised that Milestone's location violates international urban safety standards.

Institutions that draw mass gatherings, such as schools, hospitals and mosques, should be discouraged from operating near airport approach zones, it said.

Speaking at the conference, BIP President Prof Adil Mohammed Khan said, "Such high-risk zoning is a result of poor coordination between the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha [Rajuk] and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh [CAAB].

"Without proper spatial planning analysis, no No Objection Certificate [NOC] should be issued by CAAB."

He stressed that despite technical compliance with building regulations, the school's actual land use and safety risks must be reassessed urgently. "The incident at Milestone exposes the urban planning failures and the grave consequences of placing schools in unsafe zones."

The BIP also criticised the structural layout of the Milestone building, noting that its balconies were barred, and it had only one entrance/exit point, which hampered rescue efforts.

They demanded a thorough investigation into whether all Milestone structures had proper approvals from both Rajuk and CAAB, and whether any rules were violated in the school's expansion and operation.

BIP General Secretary Sheikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan said, "Rajuk cannot avoid accountability. No construction in this area should be allowed without CAAB's NOC, which must be issued based on rigorous planning analysis."

Vice President Shahriar Amin stated that transparency and accountability must be ensured across the administrative system to prevent future tragedies. "This is not just about Milestone; it's about how our cities are being built and for whom."

On 21 July, a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus, killing at least 33 people, mostly children, and injuring over 150 others. Many of the injured remain in critical condition.

In response to the tragedy, the BIP has called for a government-led technical audit of all structures located within the approach zones and "funnel" areas surrounding HSIA.

The organisation strongly recommends immediate legal action against individuals and institutions found to be in violation of land-use and zoning regulations under the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP).

BIP has also urged the publication of a white paper that will document planning violations across Dhaka.

It expressed its willingness to collaborate with the government in improving planning protocols, enforcing zoning rules, and building urban resilience.