DHAKA, Bangladesh— Bangladesh’s Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood has urged citizens not to pay attention to rumors circulating about the recent Dhaka plane crash. The Air Chief’s statement to reporters comes amid ongoing student protests across the country, sparked by the Bangladesh Air Force’s jet crash on July 21 that tragically killed 31 people, predominantly students.
“Please do not listen to any rumors on social media. A strong air force is essential for the sovereignty of the country. Please do not weaken this pillar of our sovereignty by spreading rumors. Like all of you, we are also heartbroken,” the Air Chief was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune.
Speaking to reporters after the funeral of Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, the pilot of the ill-fated F-7 fighter jet who also perished in the crash, the Air Chief condemned the unrest around Milestone School and College in Uttara, where the accident occurred.
On Tuesday, protests erupted near the crash site as students called on the interim government to release the actual death toll after the incident. The students also demanded that the military halt the use of “outdated and unsafe” trainer aircraft.
“The exact number of people killed and injured must be made public,” an ex-student of the school told AP, reflecting the widespread demand for transparency.
In his plea to the protesting students, the Air Chief stated that the authorities are not hiding any information regarding the crash. “From whom would we hide information? You are the people of our country. An accident is an accident. We are trying to bring the situation fully under control. If unrest continues, no one else will be harmed, except for our country,” he added, emphasizing the need for national unity during this difficult time.
31 Killed After Jet Crashes into Dhaka School
At least 31 people have been confirmed killed, including students, after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka. Furthermore, around 171 people, the majority of whom were students aged between eight and 14 years old, were injured in the devastating accident. This plane crash is one of the deadliest in the Bangladeshi capital in recent history.
As per the statement from the Bangladeshi military, the fighter jet, a Chinese-made F-7BGI, reportedly experienced a “technical malfunction” moments after take-off from the A.K. Khandaker air force base at 1:06 PM on Monday, July 21. The crash has led to a National Day of Mourning in Bangladesh, observed on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.