'Those who were trapped in my son's class, none returned alive': Milestone teacher recounts horror of plane crash aftermath

A teacher at Milestone School and College in Dhaka has described in harrowing detail how her son, a student at the school, narrowly survived the fighter jet crash that led to the death of 31 people, mostly children, yesterday (21 July).

Taslima Akhter, a lecturer in the management department of the college section, was on campus at the time of the crash.

Her son, a fourth-grade student, was in the building that caught fire after the crash. She later shared her experience in a Facebook post titled "Horrific July 21, 2025."

The following is her account:

Time – 1:12pm

My son, Masnun Rahman Sinan, is a fourth-grade student at the Diabari branch of Milestone College.

According to the regular schedule, school ends at 1pm.

On Monday, I had exam duty in Room 804 of Building 4. After finishing at 1pm, I was about to go to my son's building when I decided to rest. He usually came to the teachers' room on his own.

At 1:11pm, his form master, Babul sir, called to inform me that class would end at 1:40pm. I told him to send my son to the teachers' room in Building 7 afterwards.

Just after I hung up, a loud explosion was heard. From the teachers' room near the field, I saw flames rising from the direction of my son's building.

My colleague Ejaj Masud sir was sitting in front of me. I screamed, "Sir, my son's building is on fire!"

I was screaming and running, Masud sir is telling me, "Pray, call upon Allah." Within 40 seconds, I reached the spot.

While running, I called my husband and told him my son's building was on fire.

When I reached, I saw three charred bodies. Only the ID cards were lying there. One child's body was entirely burnt, with no clothes left.

Smoke was coming from the classroom where my son studied. I tried to enter, but two army personnel and BNCC students stopped me.

I tried to enter repeatedly, tried to enter forcibly, two people stopped me and forcibly pulled me aside.

I then saw Babul sir and asked, "Sir, you are here, where is my son?"

He just held my hand and said, "They are on the second floor."

I didn't believe it, then one of my students came and told me, "Madam, nothing happened. Come this way."

I saw seven or eight girl students upstairs near the canteen. I do not remember what prayers I was reciting to Allah.

My department colleague Mukul sir's niece was also trapped in that building. He was running from one side to the other, screaming.

Two army personnel made me sit and held me from one side. So that I would not go ahead.

A mango tree near the second floor was cut down, and the grill was broken.

I saw some students and a teacher coming out.

Then, suddenly, I saw my son's face. Words cannot describe that moment.

Mukul sir hugged him and said, "My boy, come quickly."

If Mukul sir could, he would have pulled him out from the second floor.

I hugged my darling, my child.

Those who were trapped in my son's class, none of them returned alive. Everyone was burned to ashes.

One mother was crying, "My child, you ate your last meal from my hand—I could not even see you one last time."

The plane had crashed directly into the classroom. Within 15 minutes, everything was destroyed. Those who were burned could not be saved.

I have never witnessed such horror so closely.

At 8:10pm, I returned to check on two sick students. I stood in front of the building. A BGB member named Masud was telling someone that another body had been found—but only a few burnt, fragmented parts.

O Rabbul Alamin, You have given such a death to children, parents will not even see the last trace of their melted bodies.