In a heartbreaking setback for families mourning the loss of 32 lives, mostly schoolchildren, the Bangladesh High Court on July 29, 2025, declined to hear a writ petition seeking Tk 1 million in immediate jet crash compensation for each victim of the Milestone in Uttara, Dhaka. The court, presided over by Justices Fahmida Quader and Sayed Jahed Mansur, cited a prior ruling on July 22, 2025, which had already ordered a probe into the tragedy and addressed compensation, rendering the new petition redundant.
The devastating crash on July 21, 2025, saw a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI fighter jet plummet into Milestone School and College, killing 31 students and the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, who heroically tried to steer the jet away from densely populated areas. The incident left 165 others injured, many still battling severe burns in hospitals. Families, shattered by grief, had pinned hopes on the petition filed by lawyer Yunus Ali Akhand, which also sought a ban on high-rise buildings near airports to prevent future tragedies.
Affected Families in Jet Crash Compensation Plea
“We just want justice for our children,” said Taslima Akhter, a teacher whose son narrowly survived the inferno. The court’s decision has deepened the anguish of survivors and families, who feel their pleas for swift financial aid have been sidelined. While the earlier ruling mandated an expert committee to investigate the Milestone jet crash and recommend safety reforms, the lack of immediate relief continues to haunt the affected community.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 4th, 2025
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