Milestone teacher Masuka Begum dies trying to save students, laid to rest at sister’s home
As she attempted to evacuate the students, the fire spread and she suffered severe burns while trying to save them
The body of Masuka Begum, a teacher at Milestone School and College who died in Monday's (21 July) plane crash, was laid to rest yesterday afternoon (22 July) at her sister's village home in Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria.
Grief-stricken family members and locals gathered to say goodbye to the 38-year-old, who had devoted her life to teaching.
As her charred body arrived at her sister's house, Masuka's father, Siddik Ahmed Chowdhury, rushed forward and broke down in tears.
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The smell of burnt flesh lingered in the air, amplifying the sorrow that had already gripped the village.
Relatives and residents demanded an investigation into the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crash and called for action against those responsible.
Masuka was one of the victims of the crash that struck the school building in Uttara, Dhaka. She was reportedly inside a classroom when the aircraft hit.
According to family members, she tried to help her students escape but was caught in the flames. She died later that night while receiving treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
"She could have saved herself. But she tried to save the children first. Before she died, she asked that her body be brought to her sister's house. We fulfilled that wish," said Khalilur Rahman, her brother-in-law.
Masuka was buried at Sohaghpur village, Ashuganj upazila, following the Asr prayer. The funeral was held at the Sohaghpur Eidgah field and attended by relatives, local residents, former classmates and community leaders.
Originally from Chilokoot village in Nabinagar upazila, Brahmanbaria, Masuka was the youngest of three siblings. She had completed her Honours from Brahmanbaria Government College and her Master's from Eden College in Dhaka.
She had always wanted to be a teacher, relatives said, and joined Milestone School and College as an English teacher two years ago.
Her family is now demanding accountability. They called for an investigation into why flight training was being conducted in such a densely populated area.
