Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice
The students’ frustrations extended beyond government delays. Much of their anger was directed at how the media and military had handled the crisis
The morning after the deadly air crash at the Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka, grief gave way to protests.
Students, many of whom had lost classmates, friends, teachers, and even family members, began gathering on the campus grounds, chanting slogans, "We seek justice, not fear."
Protesters also outlined six specific demands, which included the release of accurate names and identities of those who perished in the resulting fire after the crash, a full list of the injured, a public apology for the alleged assault on college staff, compensation for the families of the deceased, decommissioning of outdated aircraft, and reform of the Air Force's training systems to ensure public safety.
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The students who lost their lives were like our very own children. Some of our colleagues also died. The idea that anyone would lie about the number of our children's deaths is unthinkable. Everyone is a registered student here. Everyone has a name, an identity, a record.
Despite an early announcement from the nearby Diabari Army Camp banning public gatherings in the area, students pushed ahead with a sit-in. By 10:30 am on Tuesday, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, Education Adviser CR Abrar, and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam arrived on campus.
Asif Nazrul assured the students that the interim government fully accepted their six-point demand. "The students' demands are entirely justified," he said. "On behalf of the government, I assure you that each of the six demands will be fulfilled."
Among the immediate steps announced were the creation of an information centre at the college, which would maintain updated records of the deceased, injured and those missing. Arrangements were being made for compensation, rehabilitation and trauma support. The Air Force would also be instructed to avoid conducting training flights over densely populated areas.
Yet, the students' frustrations extended beyond government delays. Much of their anger was directed at how the media and military handled the crisis.
"Around a hundred people have died here, including children. Along with them, our teachers and even some parents have been killed," said one student. "Yet, some news outlets are claiming that 18 or 31 people died. That is simply not true. We know that at least 150 people have died, possibly more."
Others shared similar concerns.
"When the military laid hands on our teachers, we could not remain silent," said another student. "We protested, and they attacked us too. Even parents were not spared. One grieving parent was pushed aside by the army while asking about his child."
The tension between members of the press and the student body also escalated. Protesters confronted journalists with accusations of misreporting and being biased towards the military. Shouts of "Where were you yesterday?" and "You are spreading lies," rang out across the campus. In at least two cases, journalists were also pushed away and asked to leave.
Kazi Bilkis Ara Irin, an assistant professor at the college, offered a voice of clarity and pain. "The students who lost their lives were like our very own children. Some of our colleagues also died. The idea that anyone would lie about the number of our children's deaths is unthinkable. Everyone is a registered student here. Everyone has a name, an identity, a record."
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, the chief of the Bangladesh Air Force, during a media briefing on Tuesday, said that even though the aircraft was old, there was no lapse in maintenance. He added that there was no scope to conceal any information related to the crash at Milestone School and College.
He made these remarks following the funeral prayer of Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam, held at the Bir Uttam AK Khandaker Air Force Base in Kurmitola.
By early afternoon, volunteer students began urging peers to leave the campus. When asked why, one volunteer explained, "A third party is trying to infiltrate this movement. They want to use the crowd to create a mob. We must not let that happen."
Shortly after 3:30 pm, the advisers attempted to leave the college premises. Their vehicles were met with a blockade by students at the Diabari junction, forcing them to return to the campus. Though the advisers had publicly accepted the demands, many students remained sceptical, citing a lack of trust and transparency.
After remaining confined for nearly eight hours inside, the advisers finally exited through a backdoor around 6 pm, according to Md Mohidul Islam, Uttara zone deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
The High Court has directed that a probe committee, comprising technical experts, be formed within seven days to investigate the crash. The court also instructed that the investigation be completed within 45 days of the committee's formation.
