Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the fatal crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training jet in Dhaka, extending India’s solidarity with its eastern neighbour in this hour of national grief.
The F-7 fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in the Diabari area of the capital, claiming at least 19 lives and injuring 171, according to The Daily Star. Most of the casualties were young students and school personnel.
“Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka,” said Modi in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.”
The aircraft, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam Sagar, went down during what was reported to be a routine training sortie. The pilot, too, perished in the crash.
Emergency rescue teams were swiftly deployed to the site, and multiple agencies are working on ground to manage the aftermath and evacuate the injured. The cause of the crash is yet to be confirmed.
Also read: Bangladesh Air Force jet crashes into school in Dhaka
Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, described the incident as a national tragedy and an “irreparable loss”.
“I express my deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident of casualties caused by the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft at the Milestone School and College campus in the Diabari area of the capital today,” Yunus wrote on X.
“The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable. This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.”
He further directed relevant authorities and hospitals to respond with urgency and to provide all necessary medical care. “The government will take necessary measures to investigate the cause of the accident and ensure all forms of assistance,” he said.
The Bangladesh Air Force has operated the Chinese-origin F-7 aircraft for decades, though several fatal incidents have raised questions about its ageing fleet. An inquiry committee is expected to be formed in the coming days.
The crash comes at a sensitive time for Bangladesh as it prepares for elections next year and grapples with internal reforms across defence and aviation.
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